silence

Universal Words noun, verb, exclamation noun 1 [U] a complete lack of noise or sound: Their footsteps echoed in the silence. * A scream broke the silence of the night. 2 [C,U] a situation when nobody is speaking: an embarrassed / awkward silence * a moment's stunned silence * I got used to his long silences. * They finished their meal in total silence. * She lapsed into silence again. * There was a deafening silence (= one that is very noticeable). * a two-minute silence in honour of those who had died * Her accusations reduced him to silence. * He's not one to suffer in silence (= to suffer without telling sb)! 3 [U,sing.] ~ (on sth) a situation in which sb refuses to talk about sth or to answer questions: She broke her public silence in a TV interview. * The company's silence on the subject has been taken as an admission of guilt. * the right to silence (= the legal right not to say anything when you are arrested) * There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening (= everyone has agreed not to discuss it). 4 [U] a situation in which people do not communicate with each other by letter or telephone: The phone call came after months of silence. IDIOMS silence is golden (saying) it is often best not to say anything moreatPREGNANT verb [VN] (written) 1 to make sb/sth stop speaking or making a noise: She silenced him with a glare. * Our bombs silenced the enemy's guns (= they destroyed them). 2 to make sb stop expressing opinions that are opposed to yours: All protest had been silenced. * Her recent achievements have silenced her critics. IDIOMS see HEAVYadj. exclamation (formal) used to tell people to be quiet: Silence in court!