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.