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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"term": "silence",
"partOfSpeech": "noun",
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "b2",
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "a complete lack of noise or sound",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Their footsteps echoed in the silence."
},
{
"text": "A scream broke the silence of the night."
},
{
"text": "I need **absolute silence** when I'm working."
},
{
"text": "Celeste's voice penetrated the silence."
},
{
"text": "She filled the silence with music."
},
{
"text": "Silence reigned."
},
{
"text": "We sat in complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock."
},
{
"text": "a silence punctuated only by the occasional sniff from the children"
},
{
"text": "Something was moving in silence along the edge of the woods."
}
],
"synonyms": "quiet",
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["lengthy", "long", "prolonged"],
"… of silence": ["moment"],
"verb + silence": ["maintain", "break", "interrupt"],
"silence + verb": ["come over something", "descend", "fall"],
"preposition": ["in (the) silence"],
"phrases": ["two minutes’ silence", "three minutes’ silence"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "a situation when nobody is speaking",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "an **embarrassed/awkward/uncomfortable silence**"
},
{
"text": "a moment’s stunned silence"
},
{
"text": "I got used to his long silences."
},
{
"text": "They finished their meal **in total silence**."
},
{
"text": "She lapsed into silence again."
},
{
"text": "There was a **deafening silence** *(= one that is very noticeable)*."
},
{
"text": "a two-minute silence in honour of those who had died"
},
{
"text": "Her accusations reduced him to silence."
},
{
"text": "He’s not one to suffer in silence! *(= to suffer without telling somebody)*"
},
{
"text": "There was **a moment of** uncomfortable **silence**."
},
{
"text": "They observed a two-minute silence in memory of the children."
},
{
"text": "A heavy silence lingered in the air."
},
{
"text": "A stunned silence greeted her announcement."
},
{
"text": "A sudden silence fell over the room."
},
{
"text": "He lapsed into a sullen silence."
},
{
"text": "He thought for a moment, the silence lengthening."
},
{
"text": "She fell into long, brooding silences."
},
{
"text": "The boys were stunned into silence by this news."
},
{
"text": "The rest of the trip passed in relative silence."
},
{
"text": "There was a moment's silence before she replied."
},
{
"text": "They ate their breakfast in silence."
},
{
"text": "They walked in companionable silence."
},
{
"text": "We sat and watched in awed silence as she performed."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["lengthy", "long", "prolonged"],
"… of silence": ["moment"],
"verb + silence": ["maintain", "break", "interrupt"],
"silence + verb": ["come over something", "descend", "fall"],
"preposition": ["in (the) silence"],
"phrases": ["two minutes’ silence", "three minutes’ silence"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "a situation in which somebody refuses to talk about something or to answer questions",
"sensetop": "silence (on something)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "She **broke her** public **silence** in a TV interview."
},
{
"text": "The company's silence on the subject has been taken as an admission of guilt.",
"contextForm": "silence (on something)"
},
{
"text": "the **right to silence** *(= the legal right not to say anything when you are arrested)*"
},
{
"text": "There is **a conspiracy of silence** about what is happening *(= everyone has agreed not to discuss it)*."
},
{
"text": "He has so far kept a dignified silence on the subject."
},
{
"text": "There seems to have been a deliberate silence from the newspapers."
},
{
"text": "a debate to break the silence surrounding domestic violence"
},
{
"text": "She maintained a stony silence."
},
{
"text": "I took her silence as a no."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["deafening", "dignified", "deliberate"],
"verb + silence": ["keep", "maintain", "take as"],
"silence + verb": ["surround"],
"preposition": ["silence from"],
"phrases": [
"a conspiracy of silence",
"a wall of silence",
"a vow of silence"
]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 4,
"definition": "a situation in which people do not communicate with each other by letter or phone",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The phone call came after months of silence."
},
{
"text": "Lewis finally broke the long silence between them."
},
{
"text": "The soldier had broken radio silence to contact his aircraft."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "a situation when people do not say anything, but feel embarrassed or uncomfortable",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "an occasion when nobody speaks, although people are aware that there are feelings or thoughts to express",
"examples": [
{
"text": "There was a pregnant pause before she replied."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "it is often best not to say anything",
"labels": "(saying)",
"examples": []
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈsaɪləns/",
"audio": "si/silence/silence__gb_1.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈsaɪləns/",
"audio": "si/silence/silence__us_2.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’."
}