pause
pause — noun
1. a brief time when speaking, movement, music, or another activity stops and then
a brief time when speaking, movement, music, or another activity stops and then continues.
After a short pause, the teacher wrote the answer on the board.
collocation: after a short pause
The phone line went quiet, then Mia spoke after a long pause.
During the pause between songs, people hurried to buy cold drinks.
Without a pause, the speaker read three pages in one breath.
Rain gave the match a two-minute pause before the final point.
- break
common everyday word for a short stop or rest
- interruption
often suggests that something else stops the activity
- interval
more often a planned break in a show or event
- continuation
emphasizes that the activity keeps going
- flow
suggests smooth movement or speech without a break
用法筆記
Common with after, during, and without. It can describe a natural break in speech, music, movement, or another continuing activity.
2. the button, key, or screen control that briefly stops a recording, video, or sim
the button, key, or screen control that briefly stops a recording, video, or similar media.
Nora hit pause when the baby began to cry.
hit pause on a device
Use the pause button before you answer the front door.
Luca pressed the pause button at the exact second of the goal.
Grandpa asked which sign on the screen meant pause.
On this app, pause sits next to the red record icon.
- pause button
the most exact everyday term
- control
broader device word, not only for media
- icon
used when the control appears as a screen symbol
用法筆記
Often appears with button, key, icon, or control when naming part of a device or app.
常見錯誤
3. a silent beat between notes in a piece of music, or the written mark for that si
a silent beat between notes in a piece of music, or the written mark for that silence.
The singer counted the pause before the drums came in.
music: pause before the next sound
In bar six, the pause is too short; hold one more beat.
Ella circled the pause in her violin part with pencil.
The class missed the pause in bar four and came in early.
Our piano teacher asked for a cleaner pause between those notes.
用法筆記
In music teaching, rest is often the more usual technical word, but pause can still be used for the silence or its sign.
4. a music sign that tells you to keep a note or a rest going longer than written.
a music sign that tells you to keep a note or a rest going longer than written.
The conductor pointed at the pause above the last chord and held his hand up.
music symbol: hold longer than written
Please watch the pause above the note and wait for my cue.
In bar eight, the pause keeps the last rest going longer.
Leo forgot the pause sign and ended the hymn too soon.
The choir watched the pause above the final note and waited for the cue.
用法筆記
Usually written above a note or rest and often called a fermata in music classes.
pause — verb
1. to briefly stop speaking, moving, or another ordinary activity, or to make it st
to briefly stop speaking, moving, or another ordinary activity, or to make it stop for a moment before it continues.
Maya paused to tie her shoe before crossing the road.
pause to + verb
The guide paused for water, then led us up the hill.
pause for + noun
The coach paused practice for two minutes after Noah fell.
Please pause and check the map before we turn left.
The parade paused at the front gate while the band fixed a drum.
文法句型
pause
pause something
pause for + noun
pause to + verb
用法筆記
Unlike stop, this verb usually suggests that the same activity will continue soon. It is common with pause for + noun and pause to + verb.
常見錯誤
2. to hold a video, recording, podcast, game, or similar media at its current point
to hold a video, recording, podcast, game, or similar media at its current point by using the device control.
Sam paused the video and answered his mother's call.
pause + video
I paused the podcast when the train entered the tunnel.
The children paused the game to help Grandpa carry boxes.
Nina paused the voice note at the house number and wrote it down.
Please pause the recording before you change the cable.
文法句型
pause something
用法筆記
Object is usually a video, recording, podcast, or game controlled by a device. Distinguish from verb/1, which is used for ordinary actions such as walking, speaking, or working.