silent

¹si·lent

adjective \ˈsī-lənt\

Definition of SILENT

1

a : making no utterance : mute, speechless

b : indisposed to speak : not loquacious

2

: free from sound or noise : still

3

: performed or borne without utterance : unspoken <silent prayer> <silent grief>

4

a : making no mention <history is silent about this person>

b : not widely or generally known or appreciated <the silent pressures on a person in public office>

c : making no protest or outcry <the silent majority>

5

: unpronounced <the silent b in doubt>

6

: not exhibiting the usual signs or symptoms of presence <a silent infection>

7

a : made without spoken dialogue <silent movies>

b : of or relating to silent movies

— si·lent·ly adverb

— si·lent·ness noun

Examples of SILENT

1. She was silent for a few minutes as she thought about how to answer him.
2. The crowd fell silent as the horrible news was read aloud.
3. My father was a very silent man.
4. He was the strong, silent type.
5. He said he would call me, but the phone was silent all day.
6. A long, silent pause followed her reply.

Origin of SILENT

Middle English sylent, from Latin silent-, silens, from present participle of silēre to be silent; akin to Gothic anasilan to cease, grow calm

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SILENT

Synonyms

dumb, mum, mute, muted, speechless, uncommunicative, wordless

Antonyms

communicative, speaking, talking

Related Words

inarticulate, tongue-tied; nonvocal, voiceless; dumbstruck; sulking, sulky, sullen

Near Antonyms

articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble, well-spoken; gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky; outspoken, unreserved, vocal; facile, glib, silver-tongued, smooth-tongued

Synonym Discussion of SILENT

silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking. silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed <the strong, silent type>. taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability <taciturn villagers>. reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs <was reticent about his plans>. reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange <greetings were brief, formal, and reserved>. secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal <the secretive research and development division>.

²silent

noun

Definition of SILENT

: a motion picture made without spoken dialogue —usually used in plural

First Known Use of SILENT

1929

si·lent

adjective \ˈsī-lənt\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SILENT

1

: not exhibiting the usual signs or symptoms of presence <a silent infection> <silent gallstones> <silent tuberculosis> <silent ischemia>

2

: yielding no detectable response to stimulation—used especially of an association area of the brain <silent cortex>

3

: having no detectable function or effect <silent DNA> <silent genes>

—si·lent·ly adverb