the state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.-forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.-secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.-the cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.-absence of mention; oblivion.-be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence.-to compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.-to put to rest; to quiet.-to restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.-to cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.