PAUSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pause mean? 

• PAUSE (noun)
  The noun PAUSE has 2 senses:

1. a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

2. temporary inactivity

  Familiarity information: PAUSE used as a noun is rare.

• PAUSE (verb)
  The verb PAUSE has 2 senses:

1. interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

2. cease an action temporarily

  Familiarity information: PAUSE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PAUSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

break; intermission; interruption; pause; suspension

Hypernyms ("pause" is a kind of...):

interval; time interval (a definite length of time marked off by two instants)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pause"):

halftime (an intermission between the first and second half of a game)

letup; lull (a pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished)

time-out (a brief suspension of play)

relief; respite; rest; rest period (a pause for relaxation)

delay; hold; postponement; time lag; wait (time during which some action is awaited)

dead air (an inadvertent interruption in a broadcast during which there is no sound)

caesura (a pause or interruption (as in a conversation))

blackout (a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting)

lapse (a break or intermission in the occurrence of something)

Derivation:

pause (cease an action temporarily)

pause (interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Temporary inactivity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("pause" is a kind of...):

inactivity (being inactive; being less active)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pause"):

falter; faltering; hesitation; waver (the act of pausing uncertainly)

intermission (the act of suspending activity temporarily)

freeze; halt (an interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement)

break; recess; respite; time out (a pause from doing something (as work))

Derivation:

pause (cease an action temporarily)

pause (interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing)

• PAUSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they pause    ... he / she / it pauses   
Past simple: paused   
Past participle: paused   
-ing form: pausing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

hesitate; pause

Context example:

The speaker paused

Hypernyms (to "pause" is one way to...):

delay (act later than planned, scheduled, or required)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pause"):

hem and haw (utter 'hems' and 'haws'; indicated hesitation)

scruple (hesitate on moral grounds)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They pause a long time

Derivation:

pause (temporary inactivity)

pause (a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cease an action temporarily

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

break; intermit; pause

Context example:

let's break for lunch

Hypernyms (to "pause" is one way to...):

break up; cut off; disrupt; interrupt (make a break in)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pause"):

breathe; catch one's breath; rest; take a breather (take a short break from one's activities in order to relax)

take five (take a break for five minutes)

take ten (take a ten minute break)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

pause (temporary inactivity)

pause (a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something)

 Context examples 

This man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not familiar with it.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He paused; gazed at me: words almost visible trembled on his lips,—but his voice was checked.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Then he knocked the ashes from his pipe, carefully refilled it, and after a thoughtful pause, lighted it again.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“Well, Watson, what do you make of this?” asked Holmes, after a long pause.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At last I paused, hardly able to move.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Look at us. Have you ever paused for a moment to consider our appearance?”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There was a pause then for about ten minutes, as if the person were waiting to see whether the noise had awakened me.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was no pause of the realities wherein he moved.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

After a short pause, Catherine resumed with, “Then you do not believe Isabella so very much attached to my brother?”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The evening passed without a pause of misery, the night was totally sleepless.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)