| [/ˈsaɪlənt; ˋsaɪlənt/] adj 用法:
1 (a) making no or little sound; not accompanied by any sound 寂静的; 无声的:
with silent footsteps 脚步轻轻地 *
the smooth, silent running of the engine 发动机顺畅而静静的运转 *
The children went out, and the room was silent. 孩子们出去了, 房间里十分安静.
(b) not expressed aloud 不出声或小声表达的:
a silent prayer, curse, etc 默默的祈祷、 诅咒等. 用法:
2
(a) not speaking; making no spoken or written comments 沉默的; 不发表意见的:
He was silent for a moment, then began his answer. 他沉默了一会儿, 然後开始回答. *
She was silent for months before I got a letter from her. 她沉默了几个月, 然後给我来了一封信. *
On certain important details the report remains strangely silent. 这份报告在某些重要的细节问题上只字未提, 莫名其妙.
(b) saying little 沉默寡言的:
He is the strong, silent type. 他是个坚强而沉默的人. 用法:
3 (of a letter) written but not pronounced （指字母）不发音的:
The `b' in `doubt' and the `w' in `wrong' are silent. doubt一字中的b字母与wrong一字中的w字母都不发音. =>Usage at quiet 用法见quiet. 用法:
4 (idm 习语) the ,silent ma`jority the people with moderate views who are unable or unwilling to express them publicly 沉默的多数（不能或不愿公开表达意见的中间群众）. |