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Definition of silence : 1. Absence of mention; oblivion.
2. Be silent; - used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence.
3. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.
4. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.
5. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.
6. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.
7. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.
8. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.
9. To put to rest; to quiet.
10. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.

Synonyms:

mutism, belt up, shut up, clam up, lock away, gloss over, privacy, quietude, allay, whitewash, pipe down, hush up, quietness, sleek over, lock up, repose, placidity, serenity, keep mum, noise, tranquility, lock, ease, put away, relieve, secretiveness, dummy up, sounds, loquacity, secrecy, calm, tranquilize, privateness, reticence, wordlessness, tranquillise, quieten, calm down, shut away, be quiet, tranquillize, button up, concealment, din, reserve, quiesce, closeness, tranquillity, lock in, words, quiet down, close up, censorship

speechlessness, dumbness, voicelessness, taciturnity

deafness, deaf-mute, stone-deafness

dullness, muteness, non-resonance, flatness, deadness

muffle, dull, quiet, still, turn down, deaden

stillness, noiselessness, mute, shush, lull, soundlessness, inaudibility, hush

Usage examples:

• There was a moment of silence in the room. - "The Woman With The Fan", Robert Hichens.
• Then followed a silence. - "The Sky Pilot in No Man's Land", Ralph Connor.
• It's rather hard to keep silence, when you've been so good. - "The Black Bag", Louis Joseph Vance.