First Known Use: 1531
Dictionary
1recess
noun re·cess \ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈ\
: a short period of time during the school day when children can play
: a usually brief period of time during which regular activity in a court of law or in a government stops
: a dark, hidden place or part
Full Definition of RECESS
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>
See recess defined for English-language learners
See recess defined for kids
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Origin of RECESS
Latin recessus, from recedere to recede
Related to RECESS
- Antonyms
- bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance
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
: to stop regular activity in a court of law or in a government for a usually short period of time
Full 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
See recess defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RECESS
1809
RECESSES Defined for Kids
1recess
noun re·cess \ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈses\
Definition of RECESS for Kids
1
: a brief period for relaxation between work periods <The students play ball at recess.>
2
: a secret or hidden place <The droplets of water came from somewhere high up in the dark recesses of the roof … — Brian Jacques, Redwall>
3
: a hollow cut or built into a surface (as a wall) <The room has a recess lined with books.>
4
: a brief time off from the activity of a court
2recess
verb
re·cessedre·cess·ing
Definition of RECESS for Kids
1
: to put into a hollow space <The light fixture was recessed into the ceiling.>
2
: to interrupt for or take a brief time off
Medical Dictionary
recess
noun re·cess \ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈ\
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