Definition of silence
- n. - The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or
noise; absolute stillness.
- n. - Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity;
muteness.
- n. - Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.
- n. - The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness;
quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.
- n. - Absence of mention; oblivion.
- interj. - Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be
silence, or keep silence.
- v. t. - To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still;
to hush.
- v. t. - To put to rest; to quiet.
- v. t. - To restrain from the exercise of any function,
privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of
preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.
- v. t. - To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade;
as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.