Silence
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈsaɪləns/
- Rhymes: -aɪlɛns
Origin
From Old French silence.
Noun
silence
(usually uncountable; plural silences)- The lack of any sound.When the motor stopped, the silence was almost deafening.
- The act of refraining from speaking."You have the right to silence," said the police officer.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 5, Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.
- D. WebsterThe administration itself keeps a profound silence.
- Form of meditative worship practiced by the Society of Friends (Quakers); meeting for worship.During silence a message came to me that there was that of God in every person.
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Related terms
Full definition of silence
Verb
- (transitive) To make (someone or something) silent.Can you silence the crowd, so we can start the show?
- (transitive) To suppress criticism, etc.Silence the critics.Silence the doubters.
- 2011, December 19, Kerry Brown, Kim Jong-il obituary, A state ideology, mixing nationalism, and basic Marxist economics, going under the name "Juche", was constructed, and Kim Il-sung effectively silenced, disposed of and cleared away any opposition, isolating the country and exercising an iron grip on the military, the state media and the government and party organs.
- (Molecular biology) To block gene expression.
Derived terms
Interjection
- A common imperative instructing the addressed to remain silent.
- Silence! Enough of your insolence!