SILENCE

(NO SPEAKING) [noun] [U] - a state of not speaking or writing or making a noiseHer silence on/about what had happened to her surprised everyone.The soldiers listened in silence as their captain gave the order to attack."Silence!" (= Stop talking) shouted the teacher.My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer).Their mother's angry words reduced the children to silence.After three years' silence (= three years in which she has not spoken or written to me), I don't expect to hear from her again.Silence will be considered to mean agreement (= if no-one says anything it will be considered that everyone agrees with what has been said).A silence is a period of time in which there is complete quiet or an absence of speaking.On Remembrance Sunday every year in Britain there is a one minute's silence in honour of those killed in the two world wars.There was a long silence after she had finished speaking.Their conversation was punctuated by uncomfortable silences.(saying) 'Silence is golden' means it is often better not to say anything.