silent

silent
[[t]sa͟ɪlənt[/t]]
♦♦♦
1) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ Someone who is silent is not speaking.

Trish was silent because she was reluctant to put her thoughts into words...

He spoke no English and was completely silent during the visit...

They both fell silent.

Syn:
Derived words:
silently ADV ADV with v

She and Ned sat silently for a moment, absorbing the peace of the lake...

Most of those attending the funeral stood silently showing little emotion.

2) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n If you describe someone as a silent person, you mean that they do not talk to people very much, and sometimes give the impression of being unfriendly.

He was a serious, silent man.

Syn:
3) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ A place that is silent is completely quiet, with no sound at all. Something that is silent makes no sound at all.

The room was silent except for the slight crunching coming from John's mouth as he ground his teeth together...

The heavy guns have again fallen silent.

Syn:
Derived words:
silently ADV-GRADED ADV with v

Strange shadows moved silently in the almost permanent darkness.

4) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ about n If someone is silent about something, they do not tell people anything about it, because they think it is a private matter or because they want to keep the information secret.

Douglas was noticeably silent about his feelings for his father...

The administration has recently become silent about abuses in Haiti.

5) ADJ: ADJ n A silent emotion or action is not expressed in speech.

The attacker still stood there, watching her with silent contempt...

She offered a silent prayer of thanks.

Derived words:
silently ADV ADV with v

Whitlock silently cursed Graham for heaping more suspicion on him.

6) ADJ: ADJ n A silent film has pictures usually accompanied by music but does not have the actors' voices or any other sounds.

...one of the famous silent films of Charlie Chaplin.

...comedy stars of the silent era.

7) ADJ A silent letter in a word is written but not pronounced. For example, the `k' in the word `know' is silent.

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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  • Silent e — is a writing convention in English spelling. A silent letter e at the end of a word often signals a specific pronunciation of the preceding vowel letter, as in the difference between rid /ˈrɪd/ and ride /ˈraɪd/. This orthographic pattern followed …   Wikipedia

  • Silent — Si lent, a. [L. silens, entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana silan.] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. [1913 Webster] How silent is this town! Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Not speaking; indisposed to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silent — si·lent adj 1: making no utterance: resolved not to speak esp. about a certain topic the right to remain silent 2: making no mention or account: omitting explanation and leaving questions unanswered a criminal statute silent as to the requirement …   Law dictionary

  • silent — [sī′lənt] adj. [L silens < prp. of silere, to be silent, still, prob. < IE base * sē(i) , * sī , to rest > SEED, SIDE, Goth ( ana)silan, to cease (of the wind)] 1. making no vocal sound; not speaking; speechless; mute 2. seldom speaking; …   English World dictionary

  • silent — 1 Silent, uncommunicative, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive, close, close lipped, closemouthed, tight lipped are comparable when they mean showing restraint in speaking to or with others. Silent and uncommunicative often imply a tendency… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • silent — (adj.) 1560s, from L. silentem, from silere (see SILENCE (Cf. silence)). Phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Silent ai — Silent eye Article de la série Manga Liste des mangas par titre français autre A B C …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Silent pc — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda El Silent PC tiene como fin conseguir computadoras más silenciosas. El ruido en las computadoras es para muchos un problema. El constante aumento en la potencia y prestaciones de las computadoras ha provocado que las …   Wikipedia Español

  • Silent — Si lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] The silent of the night. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silent — [adj1] quiet; speechless bashful, buttoned up*, checked, clammed up*, close, closed up, closemouthed, curbed, dumb, dummied up*, faint, hush, hushed, iced*, inarticulate, incoherent, inconversable, indistinct, inhibited, laconic, mousy, mum, mute …   New thesaurus

  • silent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not making or accompanied by any sound. 2) not speaking or not spoken aloud. 3) (of a film) without an accompanying soundtrack. 4) (of a letter) written but not pronounced, e.g. b in doubt. 5) not prone to speak much. DERIVATIVES… …   English terms dictionary

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