English主要词典
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!