suspension

sus·pen·sion

noun \sə-ˈspen(t)-shən\

Definition of SUSPENSION

1

: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended: as a : temporary removal (as from office or privileges) b : temporary withholding (as of belief or decision) c : temporary abrogation of a law or rule d (1) : the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects; specifically : such a dissonance which resolves downward — compare anticipation, retardation (2) : the tone thus held over e : stoppage of payment of business obligations : failure —used especially of a business or a bank f : a rhetorical device whereby the principal idea is deferred to the end of a sentence or longer unit

2

a : the act of hanging : the state of being hung b (1) : the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid (2) : a substance in this state (3) : a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size — compare emulsion

3

: something suspended

4

: the means by which something is suspended; especially : the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles

Examples of SUSPENSION

1. He was angry about his suspension from the team.
2. His record shows several suspensions from school.
3. He's under suspension for breaking the rules.
4. a suspension of the rules
5. She was punished by suspension of her driver's license.

Origin of SUSPENSION

Middle English suspensyon, from Anglo-French suspension, from Late Latin suspension-, suspensio, from Latin suspendere

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SUSPENSION

Synonyms: cold storage, deep freeze, doldrums, dormancy, holding pattern, latency, moratorium, quiescence, suspended animation, suspense, abeyance

Antonyms: continuance, continuation

Related Words: inaction, inertia, inertness, motionlessness; impasse, standstill; coma, hibernation, hypnosis, repose, rest, sleep, slumber, torpor; recess, recession, remission; downtime, idleness, layoff

Near Antonyms: recommencement, renewal, resumption, resuscitation

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Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with SUSPENSION

dimension, high-tension, Vincentian