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silent - 9 dictionary results

si⋅lent

  [sahy-luhnt]
Use silent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. making no sound; quiet; still: a silent motor.
2. refraining from speech.
3. speechless; mute.
4. not inclined to speak; taciturn; reticent.
5. characterized by absence of speech or sound: a silent prayer.
6. unspoken; tacit: a silent assent.
7. omitting mention of something, as in a narrative: The records are silent about this crime.
8. inactive or quiescent, as a volcano.
9. not sounded or pronounced: The “b” in “doubt” is a silent letter.
10. Movies. not having spoken dialogue or a soundtrack.
11. Medicine/Medical. producing no symptoms: silent gallstones.
–noun
12. Usually, silents. silent films.
Origin:
1555–65; < L silent- (s. of silēns), prp. of silēre to be quiet; see -ent

Related forms:
si⋅lent⋅ly, adverb
si⋅lent⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. soundless. See still 1 . 8. dormant.

Antonyms:
1. noisy. 4. talkative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To silent
si·lent   (sī'lənt)   
adj.  
  1. Marked by absence of noise or sound; still.
  2. Not inclined to speak; not talkative.
  3. Unable to speak.
  4. Refraining from speech: Do be silent.
  5. Not voiced or expressed; unspoken: a silent curse; silent consent.
  6. Inactive; quiescent: a silent volcano.
  7. Linguistics Having no phonetic value; unpronounced: the silent b in subtle.
  8. Having no spoken dialogue and usually no soundtrack. Used of a film.
  9. Producing no detectable signs or symptoms: a silent heart attack.
n.  A silent movie.

[Latin silēns, silent-, present participle of silēre, to be silent.]
si'lent·ly adv., si'lent·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives describe people who are sparing with speech. Silent often implies a habitual disinclination to speak or to speak out: "The coroner was a very silent man" (Mary Roberts Rinehart).
The term may also mean refraining from speech, as out of fear or confusion: "The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he has the right to remain silent" (Earl Warren).
Reticent suggests a reluctance to share one's thoughts and feelings: "She had been shy and reticent with me, and now . . . she was telling me aloud the secrets of her inmost heart" (W.H. Hudson).
Reserved suggests aloofness and reticence: "a reserved man, whose inner life was intense and sufficient to him" (Arnold Bennett).
Taciturn implies unsociableness and a tendency to speak only when it is absolutely necessary: "At the Council board he was taciturn; and in the House of Lords he never opened his lips" (Thomas Macaulay).
Laconic denotes terseness or conciseness in expression, but when applied to people it often implies an unwillingness to use words: "Mountain dwellers and mountain lovers are a laconic tribe. They know the futility of words" (Edna Ferber).
Secretive implies a lack of openness about or even concealment of matters that could in all conscience be discussed: was secretive about my vacation plans.
Uncommunicative suggests a disposition to withhold opinions, feelings, or knowledge from others: an uncommunicative witness.
Tightlipped strongly implies a steadfast unwillingness to divulge information being sought: remained tightlipped when asked about her personal life. See Also Synonyms at still1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

How silent is this town! --Shak.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. --Broome.

This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. --Milton.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. --Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. --Sir W. Raleigh.

Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.

Syn: Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.

Silent

Si"lent\, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : silent
Spanish: silencioso,
German: still,
Japanese: 静かな
More Translations »

silent 
1565, from L. silentem, from silere, see silent. 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 overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).
"It is time for America's silent majority to stand up for its rights, and let us remember the American majority includes every minority. America's silent majority is bewildered by irrational protest." [Spiro T. Agnew, May 9, 1969]
In Victorian use, the phrase meant "the dead" (1874).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: si·lent
Function: adjective
1 : making no utterance : resolved not to speak esp. about a certain topic silent>
2 : making no mention or account : omitting explanation and leaving questions unanswered silent as to the requirement of intent>
3 : taking no active part in the conduct of a business silent member of a firm> —see also silent partner at PARTNER
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: si·lent
Pronunciation: 'sI-l&nt
Function: adjective
1 : not exhibiting the usual signs or symptoms of presence silent infection> silent bone fracture> <silent gallstones> <silent tuberculosis> <silent ischemia>
2 : yielding nodetectable response to stimulation —used especially of an association area of the brain <silent cortex>
3 : having no detectable function or effect<silent DNA> <silent genes> —si·lent·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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silent si·lent (sī'lənt)
adj.
Producing no detectable signs or symptoms. Used of certain diseases or pathological processes.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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silent   (sī'lənt)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Relating to a mutation that changes a nucleotide in a codon without a difference in the amino acid for which it is coded. See more at point mutation.
  2. Producing no detectable signs or symptoms, as a medical condition such as heart attack.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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