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silent

adj. · n.
US //ˈsaɪɫənt// UK //sˈaɪlənt// silent
  1. 1 no sound (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    making no noise or sound; completely quiet.

    characterised by a total absence of sound or noise; perfectly still.

    Example

    The library was completely silent as everyone was focused on their exams.

    Example

    The forest was eerily silent after the storm, with not even the rustle of a leaf to break the stillness.
  2. 2 not speaking (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not talking or refusing to speak.

    refraining from speech; remaining mute or taciturn in a social or formal context.

    Example

    He remained silent during the meeting because he didn't want to argue.

    Example

    The defendant chose to stay silent throughout the interrogation, following the advice of his legal counsel.
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  1. 3 unpronounced letter (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a letter in a word that is written but not spoken.

    referring to a grapheme that has no phonetic value in a specific word's pronunciation.

    Example

    The 'k' in the word 'knife' is silent.

    Example

    Learners often struggle with the silent 'b' in words like 'debt' and 'subtle' because the spelling contradicts the phonetic output.
  2. 4 device mode (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    having the sound or ringer turned off on a phone or computer.

    referring to a device setting that suppresses audible alerts or notifications.

    Example

    Please put your phones on silent before the movie begins.

    Example

    The executive kept her smartphone on silent mode during the presentation to ensure there were no digital distractions.
  3. 5 medical/hidden (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    happening without any clear signs or symptoms.

    referring to a condition or process that is undetected or undiagnosed due to a lack of overt symptoms.

    Example

    High blood pressure is often called a silent killer because you cannot feel it.

    Example

    The patient suffered a silent heart attack, which was only discovered months later during a routine electrocardiogram.
  4. 6 non-sound film (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    a movie made before films had recorded talking or sound.

    a motion picture produced without a synchronised recorded soundtrack, typical of the era before the late 1920s.

    Example

    Charlie Chaplin was a very famous star of the silents.

    Example

    The museum is hosting a retrospective of 1920s silents, accompanied by a live pianist to recreate the original cinema experience of that period.
Origin

From Latin silēns (“silent”), present participle of sileō (“be silent”), from Proto-Indo-European *seyl- (“still, windless, quiet, slow”). Related to Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌰𐌽 (anasilan, “to cease, grow still, be silent”), Old English sālnes (“silence”).

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