noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S AY1 L AH0 N S ER2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Something that silences or (notionally) nearly silences.
An attachment to a gun that reduces the sound it emits.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: suppressor
Antonyms: loudener
2
noun
Meaning 2
Something that silences or (notionally) nearly silences.
The muffler of an internal combustion engine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Something that silences or (notionally) nearly silences.
Any of various devices to silence the humming noise of telegraph wires.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Something that silences or (notionally) nearly silences.
Something that prevents or greatly reduces gene expression.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a tubular acoustic device inserted in the exhaust system that is designed to reduce noise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: muffler
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: acoustic device
6
noun
Meaning 6
short tube attached to the muzzle of a gun that deadens the sound of firing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: tube, tubing
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English silence Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English silencer From silence + -er.
Across languages
Translations
60 source translations are retained for this English entry.