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1. The state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
   "there was a shocked silence"; "he gestured for silence"
    
2. The absence of sound
   "he needed silence in order to sleep";
   - quiet
    
3. A refusal to speak when expected
   "his silence about my contribution was surprising";
   - muteness
    
4. The trait of keeping things secret
   - secrecy, secretiveness

1. Cause to be quiet or not talk
   "Please silence the children in the church!";
   - hush, quieten [Brit], still, shut up, hush up
    
2. Keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
   "All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed power"

1. Be silent
   "silence! Remember the people downstairs!";
   - hush, sh, shh, shush [informal], be quiet, whisht [UK, Ireland, dialect]

Derived forms: silenced, silences, silencing

Type of: condition, conquer, sound property, stamp down, status, subdue, suppress, uncommunicativeness

Encyclopedia: Silence