silence
     n 1: the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking);
          "there was a shocked silence"; "he gestured for silence"
     2: the absence of sound; "he needed silence in order to sleep";
        "the street was quiet" [syn: {quiet}] [ant: {sound}]
     3: a refusal to speak when expected; "his silence about my
        contribution was surprising" [syn: {muteness}]
     4: the trait of keeping things secret [syn: {secrecy}, {secretiveness}]
     v 1: cause to be quiet or not talk; "Please silence the children
          in the church!" [syn: {hush}, {quieten}, {still}, {shut
          up}, {hush up}] [ant: {louden}]
     2: keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure;
        "All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed
        power"
Source: WordNet® 2.0