silence

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A complete lack of sound.

   The silence of the forest was relaxing after the noise of the city.

2. 2
   noun

   A situation in which no one is speaking.

   There was a shocked silence after the announcement.

3. 3
   verb

   To make someone or something stop making noise or speaking.

   Please silence your phones before the film begins.

4. 4
   verb

   To stop someone from expressing their opinions, often by force or pressure.

   All dissenters were silenced when the dictator took power.

From Middle English silence, from Old French silence, from Latin silentium (“silence”), from silēns (“quiet, silent”, present participle of silēre) + -ium. Displaced native Old English swīġe and sālnes.

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