1. (

• silence

) the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking); "there was a shocked silence"; "he gestured for silence" ;

2. (

• silence ,
• quiet ,

) the absence of sound; "he needed silence in order to sleep"; "the street was quiet" ;

3. (

• muteness ,
• silence ,

) a refusal to speak when expected; "his silence about my contribution was surprising" ;

4. (

• secrecy ,
• secretiveness ,
• silence ,

) the trait of keeping things secret ;

1. (

• hush ,
• quieten ,
• silence ,
• still ,
• shut_up ,
• hush_up

) cause to be quiet or not talk; "Please silence the children in the church!" ;

2. (

• silence ,

) keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure; "All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed power" ;