silence

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: {quiet}] [ant: {sound}]

3: a refusal to speak when expected; "his silence about my

contribution was surprising" [syn: {muteness}]

4: the trait of keeping things secret [syn: {secrecy}, {secretiveness}]

v 1: cause to be quiet or not talk; "This threat ought to shut

them up!" [syn: {hush}, {quieten}, {still}, {shut up}, {hush

up}]

2: get rid of, silence, or suppress; "burke an issue" [syn: {burke}]