recess

¹re·cess

noun \ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈ\

Definition of RECESS

1

: the action of receding : recession

2

: a hidden, secret, or secluded place or part

3

a : indentation, cleft <a deep recess in the hill>

b : alcove <a recess lined with books>

4

: a suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation <children playing at recess>

Examples of RECESS

1. The students play outside after lunch and at recess.
2. Do you have morning recess?
3. The Senate debates will continue after the August recess.
4. The Senate wanted to vote on the bill before recess.

Origin of RECESS

Latin recessus, from recedere to recede

First Known Use: 1531

Related to RECESS

Synonyms

alcove, nook, niche

Antonyms

bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance

Related Words

corner, cranny, cubbyhole; cubicle; dent, embrasure, indent, indentation, indenture; ambry, housing, shrine

Near Antonyms

continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression; extension, prolongation

Rhymes with RECESS

abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress

²recess

verb

Definition of RECESS

transitive verb

1

: to put into a recess <recessed lighting>

2

: to make a recess in

3

: to interrupt for a recess

intransitive verb

: to take a recess

Examples of RECESS

1. The trial recessed for the holidays.
2. The judge decided to recess the trial for the holidays.

First Known Use of RECESS

1809

Related to RECESS

Synonyms

prorogate, prorogue, adjourn, suspend

Related Words

break off, disband, discontinue, disperse, intermit, interrupt; defer, hold off, postpone, put off, reserve, shelve, table; dissolve, end, halt, stop, terminate; break up, close, conclude, wind up, wrap up; abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke; abrogate, annul, invalidate, negate, nullify, quash, void

Near Antonyms

inaugurate, launch, open; carry on, continue, draw out, extend, proceed, prolong; renew, reopen, resume; assemble, call, convene, convoke, muster, rally, summon

re·cess

noun \ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈ\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of RECESS

: an anatomical depression or cleft : fossa