pause

/pɔz/

/pɔz/

Other forms: paused; pausing; pauses

The noun pause means "a short break," like the pauses in television shows that allow for commercials to be shown.

Pause can also be a verb that means "to stop for a short time." Teachers, for example, often pause after making an important point to check that students understand and to give them time to ask questions. Pause which rhymes with laws and cause, comes from the Greek word pausis, "stopping, ceasing," which comes from pauein "to stop, to cause to cease." Why don't you pause and think about that for a moment.

Definitions of pause

1. verb

   cease an action temporarily
   “We pause for station identification”

   synonyms: break, intermit

   types:

   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

   type of:

   break up, cut off, disrupt, interrupt

   make a break in
2. verb

   interrupt an activity temporarily before continuing
   “The speaker paused”

   synonyms: hesitate

   types:

   hem and haw

   utter `hems' and `haws'; indicated hesitation

   scruple

   hesitate on moral grounds

   type of:

   delay

   act later than planned, scheduled, or required
3. noun

   a time during which something is temporarily stopped or delayed
   synonyms: break, intermission, interruption, suspension

   types:

   lapse

   a break or intermission in the occurrence of something

   blackout

   a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting

   caesura

   a pause or interruption (as in a conversation)

   dead air

   an inadvertent interruption in a broadcast during which there is no sound

   delay, hold, postponement, time lag, wait

   time during which some action is awaited

   halftime

   an intermission between the first and second half of a game

   relief, respite, rest, rest period

   a pause for relaxation

   time-out

   a brief suspension of play

   letup, lull

   a pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished

   extension

   a mutually agreed delay in the date set for the completion of a job or payment of a debt

   breath, breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time

   a short respite

   moratorium

   a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged

   retardation

   the extent to which something is delayed or held back

   type of:

   interval, time interval

   a definite length of time marked off by two instants
4. noun

   temporary inactivity
   types:

   break, recess, respite, time out

   a pause from doing something (as work)

   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

   spring break

   a week or more of recess during the spring term at school

   recess

   a break in the school day for play or relaxation

   type of:

   inactivity

   being inactive; being less active