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suspended

v. · adj.
US //səˈspɛndɪd// UK //səspˈɛndɪd// sus·pend·ed
  1. 1 to stop something temporarily (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to stop an activity, a rule, or a service for a short time.

    to temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force. Transitive; often used in passive constructions regarding official procedures.

    Example

    The train service was suspended for two hours because of the heavy snow.

    Example

    The government suspended the trade agreement indefinitely following the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations between the two nations.
  2. 2 to hang from above (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to hang something from a high place so it does not touch the ground.

    to hang something from a support so that it is free on all sides except at the point of attachment.

    Example

    A large crystal lamp was suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the room.

    Example

    The architect designed a bridge that appeared to be suspended by invisible cables, creating a striking silhouette against the city skyline.
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  1. 3 to punish by removal (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to officially tell someone they cannot go to work or school for a while as a punishment.

    to debar temporarily from a privilege, office, or function as a disciplinary measure.

    Example

    The student was suspended for three days after he broke the school rules.

    Example

    The professional athlete was suspended for the remainder of the season after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
  2. 4 floating in liquid or air (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    when small pieces of a solid stay floating in a liquid or in the air without sinking.

    referring to particles dispersed throughout the bulk of a fluid medium but not dissolved. Often used in the phrase 'suspended solids'.

    Example

    The water looked cloudy because of the suspended sand particles.

    Example

    The laboratory analysis revealed high levels of suspended particulate matter, suggesting that the filtration system was failing to meet safety standards.
  3. 5 a type of musical chord (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    a chord where one note is changed to create a feeling of tension.

    describing a chord in which the third is omitted and replaced with a major second or a perfect fourth, creating a dissonance that typically requires resolution.

    Example

    The song uses a suspended chord to make the music sound more dramatic.

    Example

    The composer frequently employed suspended fourths to delay the harmonic resolution, heightening the emotional tension of the final movement.

Idioms1 entry

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