pause

Meanings

Verb

• To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
• To interrupt an activity and wait.
• To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
• To halt the play or playback of, temporarily, so that it can be resumed from the same point.
• To consider; to reflect.

Noun

• A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
• A short time for relaxing and doing something else.
• Hesitation; suspense; doubt.
• In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation mark.
• A break or paragraph in writing.
• A sign indicating continuance of a note or rest.
• Alternate spelling of Pause
• take pause: hesitate; give pause: cause to hesitate

Origin

• From Middle French pause, from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις, from Ancient Greek παύω ("stop"), of uncertain origin. Compare the doublet pausa.