Definition of pause

• n. - A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
• n. - Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt.
• n. - In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts.
• n. - In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation point; as, teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
• n. - A break or paragraph in writing.
• n. - A hold. See 4th Hold, 7.
• n. - To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest.
• n. - To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.
• n. - To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
• n. - To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect.
• v. t. - To cause to stop or rest; -- used reflexively.