noun / verb
silence
SIGH-luns/ˈsaɪləns/
Absence of audible sound or speech.
Silence fills the empty library reading room this afternoon.
Etymology
Latin silentium named the state of being silent. In English, the word first emphasized not speaking or withholding speech, then broadened to the absence of sound generally.
In context
One wild shout would have gone up had not Nigel’s outstretched hands and warning voice hushed them to silence.
More examples
- Her question is met with silence.
- Long silences make him uncomfortable.
- I silence my phone before the meeting.
- The new rules silence anyone who criticizes the council.
Forms
silence · silences · silenced · silencing
silent adjective — Making no sound or saying nothing.
silently adverb — Without making noise or saying anything.