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pause

[ pawz ]
/ pɔz /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pause ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used without object), paused, paus·ing.

to make a brief stop or delay; wait; hesitate: He paused at the edge of the pool for a moment. I'll pause in my lecture so we can all get some coffee.
to dwell or linger (usually followed by on or upon): to pause upon a particular point.

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RELATED WORDS

recess, interruption, hesitation, halt, intermission, stoppage, lapse, interval, hiatus, interlude, layoff, letup, respite, suspension, hitch, lull, interrupt, hesitate, waver, shake

Nearby words

  1. paupiette,
  2. paur,
  3. pauraque,
  4. pauropod,
  5. pausanias,
  6. pautrier's microabscess,
  7. pav,
  8. pavage,
  9. pavan,
  10. pavane

Idioms

    give pause, to cause to hesitate or be unsure, as from surprise or doubt: These frightening statistics give us pause.

Origin of pause

1400–50; (noun) Middle English < Latin pausa < Greek paûsis a halt, equivalent to paú(ein) to stop + -sis -sis; (v.) derivative of the noun
Related forms
Can be confusedpause paws pores pours
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pause

British Dictionary definitions for pause

pause

/ (pɔːz) /

verb (intr)

to cease an action temporarily; stop
to hesitate; delayshe replied without pausing

noun

a temporary stop or rest, esp in speech or action; short break
prosody another word for caesura
Also called: fermata music a continuation of a note or rest beyond its normal lengthUsual symbol:
give pause to to cause to hesitate
Derived Formspausal, adjectivepauser, nounpausing, noun, adjective

Word Origin for pause

C15: from Latin pausa pause, from Greek pausis, from pauein to halt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pause
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for pause

pause

[ pôz ]

n.

A temporary stop or cessation.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with pause

pause

see give pause.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.