Silence - Definition

n 1: the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking);
"there was a shocked silence"; "he gestured for silence"
2: the absence of sound; "he needed silence in order to sleep";
"the street was quiet" [syn: silence, quiet] [ant:
sound]
3: a refusal to speak when expected; "his silence about my
contribution was surprising" [syn: muteness, silence]
4: the trait of keeping things secret [syn: secrecy,
secretiveness, silence]
v 1: cause to be quiet or not talk; "Please silence the children
in the church!" [syn: hush, quieten, silence,
still, shut up, hush up] [ant: louden]
2: keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure;
"All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed
power"