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silence

n. · v.
US //ˈsaɪɫəns// UK //sˈaɪləns// si·lence
  1. 1 absence of sound (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a total lack of noise or sound.

    the complete absence of audible sound or noise.

    Example

    The deep silence of the forest was only broken by a single bird.

    Example

    An uncomfortable silence settled over the room after the director announced the unexpected budget cuts.
  2. 2 not speaking (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of not talking or refusing to give information.

    the state of refraining from speech or communication, often deliberate.

    Example

    Her silence on the matter made her friends think she was angry.

    Example

    The prisoner maintained his silence throughout the interrogation, refusing to implicate any of his former associates.
    • muteness
    • reticence
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  1. 3 to make quiet (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make someone or something stop making noise.

    to cause a person or object to become silent; to mute an acoustic source.

    Example

    He silenced his phone before the movie started.

    Example

    The librarian silenced the rowdy group of students with a single stern look from across the reading room.
  2. 4 to suppress (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to stop people from expressing their opinions or criticisms.

    to suppress or prohibit the expression of ideas, criticism, or dissent.

    Example

    The government tried to silence the protesters by closing the newspapers.

    Example

    The corporation attempted to silence the whistleblower through a series of aggressive legal threats and non-disclosure agreements.
Origin

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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