silence
/ˈsaɪləns; `saɪləns/ n
1 [U] condition of being quiet or silent; absence of sound 寂静; 无声
the silence of the night 夜的寂静
A scream shattered the silence. 一声尖叫打破了寂静.
In the library silence reigned, ie it was totally silent. 图书馆内十分安静.
2
(a) [U] not speaking, answering sth spoken or written, making comments, etc; not mentioning sth or revealing a secret 沉默; 缄默; 默不作声
All my questions were met with silence from him. 我的所有问题他都拒不回答.
The teacher's stern look reduced him to silence. 教师神情严肃, 他便静了下来.
I can't understand her silence on this matter. 我不明白她为什麽对此事默不作声.
I assume that your silence implies consent, ie that by saying nothing you are showing that you do not disagree. 我想你沉默即表示同意.
After a year's silence (ie a year during which she didn't write), I got a letter from her. 她沉默了一年之後, 又给我来了一封信.
They tried to buy his silence, ie to pay him not to reveal a secret. 他们想收买他让他保持缄默（不泄露秘密）.
(b) [C] period during which sb is silent 沉默的一段时间
a conversation with many silences 时断时续的交谈
There was a brief silence, followed by uproar. 沉默片刻之後又喧嚣起来了.
3 (idm 习语) in silence without speaking or making a sound; silently 安静地; 无声地
listen to sb in silence 静静地听某人谈话
The whole ceremony took place in complete silence. 举行仪式的全过程中寂静无声. a pregnant pause/silence =>pregnant. ,silence is `golden (saying 谚) it is often best not to say anything 沉默是上策. silence, v [Tn]
cause (sb/sth) to be silent; cause to be quiet(er) 使（某人[某物]）沉默; 使安静
try to silence a noisy crowd, a crying baby 设法使喧闹的人群、 啼哭的婴儿静下来
silence one's critics, eg by doing sth they cannot criticize 使挑剔的人无话可说
silence the enemy's guns, eg by destroying them 把敌人的阵地摧毁
This insult silenced him completely. 他受此侮辱後一言不发了.