(1)寂(安)静的，无声的(making no or little sound;quiet;still)：a～night/corner of the room 寂静的夜/房间里安静的角落;a～volcano 休眠火山;The room was～. 房间里很安静。The crowd fell～at the news that the Prime Minister was dead. 听到首相去世的消息，人群立刻安静下来。 The cat moved on～feet. 猫悄然无声地走动。the～films 无声电影;walk with～footsteps 悄然无声地走路;〖同〗soundless，noiseless，quiet，stillness;〖反〗noisy，stirring;

(2)不出声的，小声的(not expressed aloud)：a～prayer 默祷;～curse/laughter 不出声的骂/笑;～reading 默读;

(3)沉默的(not speaking)：remain/keep respectfully～恭敬地保持沉默;a～admission of guilt 默认有罪;She was～for a while，and drove without speaking. 她沉默了一会儿，然后一声不吭地开车走了。He stood with his head bent，～.他低头站着，一声不响。

(4)不表态的，没(不)谈及……的(omitting or refusing mention of sth;making no spoken or written comments)：History is～about/upon this person. 历史上对此人没有记载。He was～about his early life. 他对自己早年的生活闭口不谈。His statement was～on that point/the subject. 他在声明中对那一点讳莫如深/避而不谈那个题目。A～partner has no share in managing a business. 不表态的合伙人没有管理企业的份儿。the～majority 不能够或不愿意公开表达自己观点的多数人;

(5)沉默寡言的(saying little)：a～child 一个沉默寡言的孩子;Bill is the strong，～type. 比尔是个坚毅而沉默寡言的人。

(6)不发音的((of a letter in a word) not pronounced)[无comp]：The “b” in “debt” is～. Debt 中的字母b不发音。

→′silently adv 静静(默默)地;沉静地;′silence n 安静;沉默;

【辨异】silent 与 calm、quiet 和 still²的区别见CALM。