silence

¹si·lence

noun \ˈsī-lən(t)s\

Definition of SILENCE

1

: forbearance from speech or noise : muteness —often used interjectionally

2

: absence of sound or noise : stillness <in the silence of the night>

3

: absence of mention:

a : oblivion, obscurity

b : secrecy <weapons research was conducted in silence>

Examples of SILENCE

1. I find it hard to sleep unless there is complete silence.
2. The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
3. We sat there in dead silence.
4. My sister's revelation was met with stunned silence.
5. The professor asked for silence.
6. There was an awkward silence after he confessed his love for her.
7. A long silence followed her reply.
8. We must break 50 years of silence on issues like the government's involvement in assassination and espionage.
9. I will not be intimidated into silence.
10. She finally ended her silence and spoke to the media about what happened.

Origin of SILENCE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin silentium, from silent-, silens

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SILENCE

Synonyms

dumbness, muteness, speechlessness, stillness

Antonyms

noise, sound, unquietness

Related Words

inarticulacy, inarticulateness, voicelessness; reserve, reticence, reticency, taciturnity

Near Antonyms

communication, speaking, talking; eloquence, fluency, volubility; chattiness, garrulousness, loquaciousness, loquacity, talkativeness, talkiness; verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

²silence

transitive verb

si·lencedsi·lenc·ing

Definition of SILENCE

1

: to compel or reduce to silence : still <silenced the crowd>

2

: suppress <silence dissent>

3

: to cause to cease hostile firing or criticism <silence the opposition>

Examples of SILENCE

1. My sister's revelation silenced everyone around the table.
2. Disconnecting the battery will silence the alarm.
3. The mayor tried to silence his critics.
4. I will not be silenced!
5. It's obvious that the purpose of this law is to silence dissent.

First Known Use of SILENCE

1598

Related to SILENCE

Synonyms

dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], settle, shush, shut up, squelch, still

Related Words

douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquish

Near Antonyms

agitate, stir

si·lence

transitive verb \ˈsī-lən(t)s\   (Medical Dictionary)

si·lenced; si·lenc·ing

Medical Definition of SILENCE

: to block the genetic expression of : suppress <the gene was silenced using the technique of RNA interference>