pause

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A short stop in activity or speech before continuing.

   There was a long pause before she answered the question.

2. 2
   verb

   To stop doing something for a short time before continuing.

   He paused for a moment to catch his breath.

3. 3
   verb

   To temporarily stop a song, video, or game so it can be continued later.

   She paused the film to answer the phone.

From Middle French pause, from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis), from Ancient Greek παύω (paúō, “stop”), of uncertain origin. Doublet of pausa.

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