silent */*/*/

silent */*/*/
UK [ˈsaɪlənt] / US adjective
1) a silent person or group of people does not talk, laugh, or make any noise

Everyone was totally silent as the president spoke.

a crowd of silent onlookers

a) used about a person who does not usually talk to other people very much

Fathers were expected to be strong and silent.

a silent woman

b) refusing to provide information or to talk about something

If you are arrested, you have the right to remain silent (= you do not have to give information to the police).

silent on:

For the time being, I prefer to stay silent on the matter.

silent about:

Everyone was asked to keep silent about the new project.

c) a silent action or activity is done without talking or making any sounds

silent reading

He said a silent prayer.

2) a silent place is very quiet

We hiked through a silent pine forest.

The house was silent except for the hum of the refrigerator.

3) if something such as a disease or problem is silent, there no noticeable signs that it exists

High blood pressure is a silent killer.

a silent infection

4) a silent letter is a letter in a word that has no sound when you say the word but that must be used when the word is spelled or written

The "h" in "herb" is silent in American English.


Derived word:
silently
UK / US adverb

She walked silently towards the door.


English dictionary. 2014.

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