First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1silence
noun si·lence \ˈsī-lən(t)s\
: a lack of sound or noise
: a situation, state, or period of time in which people do not talk
: a situation or state in which someone does not talk about or answer questions about something
Full 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
See silence defined for English-language learners
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Origin of SILENCE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin silentium, from silent-, silens
Related to SILENCE
- Synonyms
- dumbness, muteness, speechlessness, stillness
- Antonyms
- noise, sound, unquietness
2silence
transitive verb
: to cause (someone or something) to stop speaking or making noise : to cause (someone or something) to become silent
: to stop (someone) from expressing opinions that are opposed to your own or from telling people about bad things that you have done
: to stop (something) from being expressed or revealed
si·lencedsi·lenc·ing
Full 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>
First Known Use of SILENCE
1598
SILENCE Defined for Kids
1silence
noun si·lence \ˈsī-ləns\
Definition of SILENCE for Kids
1
: the state of keeping or being silent <The teacher motioned for silence.>
2
: the state of there being no sound or noise : stillness
2silence
verb
si·lencedsi·lenc·ing
Definition of SILENCE for Kids
1
: to stop the noise or speech of : cause to be silent
2
: suppress 1 <The group tried to silence opposing views.>
Medical Dictionary
silence
transitive verb si·lence \ˈsī-lən(t)s\
si·lencedsi·lenc·ing
Medical Definition of SILENCE
: to block the genetic expression of : suppress <the gene was silenced using the technique of RNA interference>
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