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pause

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The definition of a pause is a temporary stop or rest.

(noun)

An example of a pause is a three-second break in between the lines of a speech.

To pause is defined as to stop for a brief period of time.

(verb)

An example of pause is to stop a movie for a couple of minutes.

See pause in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a short period of inaction; temporary stop, break, or rest, as in speaking or reading
hesitation; interruption; delay: pursuit without pause
1. a stop or break in speaking or reading, which clarifies meaning
2. any mark of punctuation indicating this
Music
1. the holding of a tone or rest beyond its written value, at the discretion of the performer
2. a sign  indicating this, written above the note or rest
Prosody a rhythm break or caesura

Origin: ME pawse < MFr pause < L pausa < Gr pausis, a stopping < pauein, to bring to an end < IE base *paus-, to let go > OPrus pausto, wild

intransitive verb paused, pausing

to make a pause; be temporarily inactive; stop; hesitate
to dwell or linger: with on or upon

Origin: Fr pauser < L pausare, to stop < the n.

Related Forms:

pauser noun

See pause in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb paused paused, paus·ing, paus·es

verb, intransitive

To cease or suspend an action temporarily.
To linger; tarry: paused for a while under the huge oak tree.
To hesitate: He paused before replying.

verb, transitive

To cease or suspend the action of temporarily; stop for an interim: “Once a movie [ordered on demand] begins, it can be paused but not rewound or fast-forwarded” (George Judson).

noun

A temporary cessation.
A delay or suspended reaction, as from uncertainty; a hesitation: After a pause the audience broke into cheers.
A break, stop, or rest, often for a calculated purpose or effect: After a dramatic pause, the lawyer finished her summation.
a. Music A sign indicating that a note or rest is to be held.
b. A break or rest in a line of poetry; a caesura.
Reason for hesitation: The immensity of the task gives one pause.

Origin:

Origin: From Middle English, pause

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin pausa

Origin: , from Greek pausis

Origin: , from pauein, to stop

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