26984 words

pause

7 definitions • 12 examples
1
a short period in which something such as a sound or an activity is stopped before starting again:

Examples:

There will be a brief pause in the proceedings while the piano is moved into place.
After a long, awkward pause, someone finally asked a question.
She spoke for three quarters of an hour without so much as a pause.
There followed a pregnant (= filled with meaning) pause in which neither of them knew what to say.
2
a button or control that allows you to stop a recording for a short time:

Examples:

I pressed pause/the pause button so I could go and make a cup of tea.
4
a symbol in music meaning that a note or rest should be held for longer than normal
5
to stop doing something for a short time, or to make something stop for a short time:

Examples:

He paused and thought for a moment.
She paused to catch her breath, and then kept on jogging.
A judge has paused the litigation to give both sides a chance to settle their differences.
6
to make a recording stop for a short time by pressing a button or control:

Examples:

Can you pause the movie there, please?
It is now possible to pause and rewind live television.
She paused at key moments in the scene.
7
a moment in which something, such as a sound or an activity, stops before starting again:

Examples:

There was a long pause during which we all wondered what he would say next.

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