pause: Meaning and Definition of

pause

1. a temporary stop or rest, esp. in speech or action: a short pause after each stroke of the oar.
2. a cessation of activity because of doubt or uncertainty; a momentary hesitation.
3. any comparatively brief stop, delay, wait, etc.: I would like to make a pause in my talk and continue after lunch.
4. a break or rest in speaking or reading to emphasize meaning, grammatical relation, metrical division, etc., or in writing or printing by the use of punctuation.
5. a break or suspension, as a caesura, in a line of verse.
6. a fermata.
7. to cause to hesitate or be unsure, as from surprise or doubt: These frightening statistics give us pause.

1. 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.
2. to dwell or linger (usually fol. by on or upon): to pause upon a particular point.