silence in WordNet English dictionary

1. cause to be quiet or not talk
   "Please silence the children in the church!"
   hush  quieten  silence  still  shut up  hush up 
   
2. keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
   "All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed power"
   silence 
   

1. a refusal to speak when expected
   "his silence about my contribution was surprising"
   muteness  silence 
   
2. the absence of sound
   "he needed silence in order to sleep"; "the street was quiet"
   silence  quiet 
   
3. the trait of keeping things secret
   secrecy  secretiveness  silence 
   
4. the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
   "there was a shocked silence"; "he gestured for silence"
   silence