silence

si|lence1 [ `saıləns ] noun ***

1. ) uncount complete quiet:

The owl's cry cut through the silence in the forest.

When I answered the phone there was dead silence (=no sound at all).

The silence was broken by the soft sound of raindrops.

a ) count or uncount a period of time when no one speaks:

Long silences make her uncomfortable.

We stared at each other in stunned silence.

a moment of silence: We begin our service with a moment of silence.

in silence: They drove home in silence.

2. ) singular or uncount the refusal to talk about something or provide information:

She maintained an angry silence.

silence on: Her silence on the subject has been interpreted as a sign of guilt.

3. ) singular or uncount a complete lack of communication with someone by letter, telephone, or other means:

A letter finally arrived from Lee, ending his long silence.

break your silence

to talk about something you refused to talk about before:

The former president has decided to break his silence about the scandal.

silence

si|lence 2 [ `saıləns ] verb transitive *

1. ) to stop someone or something from speaking or making a sound:

He silenced her with an angry look.

They were completely silenced by the news.

After about twenty minutes, someone managed to silence the alarm.

2. ) to prevent someone from giving an opinion or criticizing you:

Efforts to silence opposition have so far been unsuccessful.

3. ) VERY INFORMAL to kill someone so that they cannot give information to an enemy or someone in authority:

Police suspect the missing witness has been silenced by the mob.