Other

silence

Definition of silence

[mass noun]

complete absence of sound:sirens pierce the silence of the night [count noun]:an eerie silence descended over the house
the fact or state of abstaining from speech:Karen had withdrawn into sullen silence she was reduced to silence for a moment we finished our meal in silence
the avoidance of mentioning or discussing something:politicians keep their silence on the big questions
[count noun] a short appointed period of time during which people stand still and do not speak as a sign of respect for a dead person or group of people:the game was preceded by a two-minute silence in his memory

[with object]

cause to become silent; prohibit or prevent from speaking:she was silenced by the Inspector’s stern look the team’s performance silenced their critics
(usually as adjective silenced) fit (a gun or an exhaust system) with a silencer:a silenced .22 rifle

Phrases

Middle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere 'be silent'

Definition of silence in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

More results for silence