Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   si·lence

   /ˈsīləns/

   noun

   • 1. complete absence of sound: "sirens pierce the silence of the night" Similar quietnessquietquietudestillstillnesshushtranquilitynoiselessnesssoundlessnesspeacepeacefulnesspeace and quietOpposite soundnoise
   • ▪ the fact or state of abstaining from speech: "Karen had withdrawn into sullen silence" Similar speechlessnesswordlessnessvoicelessnessdumbnessmutenesstaciturnityreticenceuncommunicativenessunresponsivenessOpposite speechloquacity
   • ▪ the avoidance of mentioning or discussing something: "politicians keep their silence on the big questions" Similar secretivenesssecrecyreticencetaciturnityuncommunicativenessconcealmentOpposite communicationcommunicativeness
   • ▪ the state of standing still and not speaking as a sign of respect for someone deceased or in an opportunity for prayer: "a moment of silence presided over by a local minister"

   verb

   • 1. prohibit or prevent from speaking: "she was silenced by the officer's stern look" Similar hushshushstillgagmuzzlecensorstiflequietenquietstopput an end toput a stop tocut shortsuppressOpposite occasionencourage
   • ▪ stop or suppress (a sound or noise); cause to become silent: "she silenced the alarm on her phone" Similar muffledeadensoftenmutesmotherdampendamp downtone downmasksuppressreduceabateextinguishkillOpposite amplify
   • 2. suppress or prevent the expression of (a gene or genetic material): "many inherited disorders are caused by a mutation that silences a gene"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSILENCE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   a state of refusing to talk about something or answer questions, or a state of not communicating: My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer). Her silence about/on what had happened to her surprised everyone.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › silenceSilence Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › silence

   • Cached

   The meaning of SILENCE is forbearance from speech or noise : muteness —often used interjectionally. How to use silence in a sentence.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › silenceSilence - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › silence

   To silence someone is to hush him up or tell him to be quiet. Silence also has a more disturbing meaning: if someone threatens you to keep you from saying something, she's trying to silence you.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSILENCE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Someone's silence about something is their failure or refusal to speak to other people about it. The district court ruled that Popper's silence in court today should be entered as a plea of not guilty.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › silenceSILENCE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › silence

   • Cached

   the state or fact of being silent; muteness. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern: the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft. the state of being forgotten; oblivion: in the news again after years of silence. concealment; secrecy.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishSILENCE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   SILENCE definition: 1. If there is silence, there is no sound: 2. a situation in which someone says nothing about a…. Learn more.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishsilence noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of silence noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › silenceSilence - definition of silence by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › silence

   • Cached

   1. To make silent or bring to silence: silenced the crowd with a gesture. 2. To curtail the expression of; suppress: silencing all criticism; silenced their opponents. 3. Genetics To interfere with the expression of (a gene or gene segment) so that its biological function is suppressed.

10. www.dictionary.com › browse › silence_(SILENCE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

    www.dictionary.com › browse › silence_(

    • Cached

    the state or fact of being silent; muteness. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern: the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft.

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › silencesilence | meaning of silence in Longman Dictionary of...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › silence

    • Cached

    silence meaning, definition, what is silence: complete absence of sound or noise: Learn more.