# PAU

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pau
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a short break or a moment of rest. It is an old word that people rarely use today.

For teachers: a brief period of rest or a pause in activity. Primarily archaic or dialectal in usage.

## Examples

- The workers took a short pau before finishing the job.
- After hours of climbing the steep trail, the hikers finally stopped for a pau at the summit.
- The narrative structure allows for a brief pau between the chaotic opening scenes and the more contemplative middle section of the novel.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in historical or literary contexts; largely replaced by 'pause' or 'break' in modern English.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.