1 N‑COUNT A silencer is a device that is fitted onto a gun to make it very quiet when it is fired. □ …a pistol that was equipped with a silencer.
2 N‑COUNT A silencer is a device on a car exhaust that makes it quieter. [BRIT ] in AM, use muffler
si|lent ◆◇◇ /sa I lənt/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is silent is not speaking. □ Trish was silent because she was reluctant to put her thoughts into words. □ He spoke no English and was completely silent during the visit. □ They both fell silent. ● si|lent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She and Ned sat silently for a moment, absorbing the peace of the lake.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone as a silent person, you mean that they do not talk to people very much, and sometimes give the impression of being unfriendly. □ He was a serious, silent man.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A place that is silent is completely quiet, with no sound at all. Something that is silent makes no sound at all. □ The room was silent except for John's crunching. ● si|lent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Strange shadows moved silently in the almost permanent darkness.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] A silent emotion or action is not expressed in speech. □ The attacker still stood there, watching her with silent contempt.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] A silent film has pictures usually accompanied by music but does not have the actors' voices or any other sounds. □ …one of the famous silent films of Charlie Chaplin.
si |lent ma|jo r|ity N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] If you believe that, in society or in a particular group, the opinions of most people are very different from the opinions that are most often heard in public, you can refer to these people as the silent majority . □ [+ of ] The silent majority of supportive parents and teachers should make their views known.
si |lent pa rt|ner (silent partners ) N‑COUNT A silent partner is a person who provides some of the capital for a business but who does not take an active part in managing the business. [AM , BUSINESS ] in BRIT, use sleeping partner
sil|hou|ette /s I lue t/ (silhouettes )
1 N‑COUNT A silhouette is the solid dark shape that you see when someone or something has a bright light or pale background behind them. □ [+ of ] The dark silhouette of the castle ruins stood out boldly against the fading light.
2 N‑COUNT The silhouette of something is the outline that it has, which often helps you to recognize it. □ [+ of ] …the distinctive silhouette of his ears.
sil|hou|ett|ed /s I lue t I d/ ADJ If someone or something is silhouetted against a background, you can see their silhouette. □ [+ against ] Silhouetted against the sun stood the figure of a man.
sili|ca /s I l I kə/ N‑UNCOUNT Silica is silicon dioxide, a compound of silicon which is found in sand, quartz, and flint, and which is used to make glass.
sili|cate /s I l I kət/ (silicates ) N‑VAR A silicate is a compound of silica which does not dissolve. There are many different kinds of silicate. □ …large amounts of aluminum silicate.
sili|con /s I l I kən/ N‑UNCOUNT Silicon is an element that is found in sand and in minerals such as quartz and granite. Silicon is used to make parts of computers and other electronic equipment. □ A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.
si li|con chi p (silicon chips ) N‑COUNT A silicon chip is a very small piece of silicon inside a computer. It has electronic circuits on it and can hold large quantities of information or perform mathematical or logical operations.
sili|cone /s I l I koʊn/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Silicone is a tough artificial substance made from silicon, which is used to make polishes, and also used in cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery. □ …silicone breast implants.
silk /s I lk/ (silks ) N‑VAR Silk is a substance which is made into smooth fine cloth and sewing thread. You can also refer to this cloth or thread as silk . □ They continued to get their silks from China. □ Pauline wore a silk dress with a strand of pearls.
silk|en /s I lkən/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Silken is used to describe things that are very pleasantly smooth and soft. [LITERARY ] □ …her long silken hair.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A silken garment, fabric, or rope is made of silk or a material that looks like silk. [LITERARY ] □ …silken cushions.
si lk-screen also silkscreen ADJ [ADJ n] Silk-screen printing is a method of printing patterns onto cloth by forcing paint or dyes through silk or similar material. □ …silk-screen prints.
silk|worm /s I lkwɜː r m/ (silkworms ) N‑COUNT A silkworm is the young form of a Chinese moth and it produces silk.
silky /s I lki/ (silkier , silkiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] If something has a silky texture, it is smooth, soft, and shiny, like silk. □ …dresses in seductively silky fabrics.
sill /s I l/ (sills ) N‑COUNT A sill is a shelf along the bottom edge of a window, either inside or outside a building. □ [+ of ] Whitlock was perched on the sill of the room's only window.
sil|ly /s I li/ (sillier , silliest ) ADJ If you say that someone or something is silly , you mean that they are foolish, childish, or ridiculous. □ My best friend tells me that I am silly to be upset about this. □ That's a silly question.
si l|ly sea|son N‑PROPER The silly season is the time around August when the newspapers are full of unimportant or silly news stories because there is not much political news to report. [BRIT ]
silo /sa I loʊ/ (silos )
1 N‑COUNT A silo is a tall round metal tower on a farm, in which grass, grain, or some other substance is stored. □ The land is flat, a chequerboard of fertile cornfields and grain silos. □ …a grain silo.