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1. Dictionary

   silence

   /ˈsʌɪləns/

   noun

   • 1. complete absence of sound: "sirens pierce the silence of the night" Similar quietnessquietquietudestillstillnesshushtranquillitynoiselessnesssoundlessnesspeacepeacefulnesspeace and quietOpposite soundnoise
   • ▪ the fact or state of abstaining from speech: "Karen had withdrawn into sullen silence" Similar speechlessnesswordlessnessvoicelessnessdumbnessmutenesstaciturnityreticenceuncommunicativenessunresponsivenessOpposite speechloquacity
   • ▪ the avoidance of mentioning or discussing something: "politicians keep their silence on the big questions" Similar secretivenesssecrecyreticencetaciturnityuncommunicativenessconcealmentOpposite communicationcommunicativeness
   • ▪ a short appointed period of time during which people stand still and do not speak as a sign of respect for a dead person or group of people: "the game was preceded by a two-minute silence in his memory"

   verb

   • 1. prohibit or prevent from speaking: "she was silenced by the officer's stern look" Similar hushshushstillgagmuzzlecensorstiflequietenquietstopput an end toput a stop tocut shortsuppressOpposite occasionencourage
   • ▪ stop or suppress (a sound or noise); cause to become silent: "she silenced the alarm on her phone" Similar muffledeadensoftenmutesmotherdampendamp downtone downmasksuppressreduceabateextinguishkillOpposite amplify
   • 2. suppress or prevent the expression of (a gene or genetic material): "many inherited disorders are caused by a mutation that silences a gene"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSILENCE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   a state of refusing to talk about something or answer questions, or a state of not communicating: My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer). Her silence about/on what had happened to her surprised everyone.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › silenceSilence Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › silence

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   noun. si· lence ˈsī-lən (t)s. Synonyms of silence. 1. : forbearance from speech or noise : mutenessoften used interjectionally. 2. : absence of sound or noise : stillness. in the silence of the night. 3. : absence of mention: a. : oblivion, obscurity. b. : secrecy. weapons research was conducted in silence. silence. 2 of 2. verb.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › silenceSILENCE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › silence

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   the state or fact of being silent; muteness. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern: the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft. the state of being forgotten; oblivion: in the news again after years of silence. concealment; secrecy.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › silence_1silence noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › silence_1

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   Definition of silence noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › silenceSilence - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › silence

   Silence is quietness, or a lack of sound. When you silence a noisy movie-goer, you shush her. When there's silence, nothing is heard. Silence is empty, the opposite of a noisy racket. A library is one place where there's supposed to be silence so people can concentrate. To silence someone is to hush him up or tell him to be quiet.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › silenceSilence - definition of silence by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › silence

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   1. To make silent or bring to silence: silenced the crowd with a gesture. 2. To curtail the expression of; suppress: silencing all criticism; silenced their opponents. 3. Genetics To interfere with the expression of (a gene or gene segment) so that its biological function is suppressed.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySILENCE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   a state of refusing to talk about something or answer questions, or a state of not communicating: My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer). Her silence about/on what had happened to her surprised everyone.