quiet
I.qui‧et1 S2 W2 /ˈkwaɪət/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative quieter, superlative quietest)
[Word Family: noun: ↑quiet, ↑disquiet, ↑quietness, ↑quietism, ↑quietude; verb: ↑quieten, ↑quiet; adverb: ↑quietly; adjective: ↑quiet]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: quietus, from the past participle of quiescere 'to become quiet, rest', from quies; ⇨ ↑quiet2]
1. MAKING NO NOISE not making much noise, or making no noise at all:
We’ll have to be quiet so as not to wake the baby.
It’s a nice car. The engine’s really quiet.
I’ll be as quiet as a mouse (=very quiet). ⇨ see box on P.1426
2. NOT SPEAKING
a) not saying much or not saying anything:
You’re very quiet, Mom – is anything the matter?
I didn’t know anything about it so I just kept quiet.
The crowd went quiet.
quiet confidence/satisfaction/desperation (=having a particular feeling but not talking about it)
a woman whose life of quiet desperation threatens to overwhelm her
quiet authority/dignity (=not saying much but making other people have a particular feeling about you)
Jack’s air of quiet authority
b) someone who is quiet does not usually talk very much:
a strange, quiet girl
3. (be) quiet! spoken used to tell someone to stop talking or making a noise:
Tanya, be quiet! I’m on the phone.
Quiet, you lot!
4. keep something quiet/keep quiet about something to keep information secret:
You’re getting married? You kept that quiet!
5. PLACE WITH NO NOISE a place that is quiet has no noise or not much noise:
Our hotel room was comfortable and quiet.
When they walked into the pub, the place went quiet.
6. NO ACTIVITY/PEOPLE without much activity or without many people:
It was a Sunday, about three o'clock, and the streets were quiet.
I’d love to go on holiday somewhere where it’s nice and quiet.
Anthony met her in the bar, and they found a quiet corner where they could talk.
I’m going to have a quiet night in (=an evening when you stay at home and relax).
He wants a quiet life, while she wants to go out partying.
7. BUSINESS if business is quiet, there are not many customers SYN slack:
August is a quiet time of year for the retail trade.
8. keep somebody quiet to stop someone from talking, complaining, or causing trouble:
Give the kids some crayons – that will keep them quiet for a while.
9. have a quiet word (with somebody) especially British English to talk to someone privately when you want to criticize them or tell them about something serious:
Brian’s just not keeping up with the workload. Can you have a quiet word?
HINT: ► Do not confuse quiet with quite (=fairly).
—quietness noun [uncountable]
⇨ ↑quietly
• • •
THESAURUS
 a quiet sound or voice
▪ quiet not making a loud sound: I heard a quiet voice behind me. | a car with a quiet engine
▪ low quiet – especially because you do not want people to hear or be disturbed: Doug was on the phone, speaking in a low voice. | I turned the volume down low.
▪ soft quiet and pleasant to listen to: Soft music was playing in the background. | His voice was soft and gentle.
▪ silent not making any sound at all: a silent prayer | silent laughter | The machines were virtually silent.
▪ hushed deliberately quiet because you do not want people to hear – used about people’s voices: They were talking about money in hushed tones. | The doctor’s voice was hushed and urgent.
▪ faint quiet and difficult to hear because it comes from a long way away: The men went ahead and their voices got fainter and fainter. | the faint sound of bells
▪ muffled difficult to hear, for example because the sound comes from another room or someone’s mouth is covered by something: Muffled voices were coming from downstairs. | the muffled sound of someone crying
▪ dull [only before noun] a dull sound is not loud – used especially about the sound of something hitting another thing: He hit the ground with a dull thud.
▪ inaudible too quiet to hear: The sound is inaudible to the human ear. | Her answer came in an almost inaudible whisper.
a quiet place
▪ quiet without much noise: It’s so quiet here at night. | This is the quietest room in the house to work in.
▪ silent with no noise at all: The room fell silent (=became silent).
▪ peaceful (also tranquil especially written) quiet in a pleasant and relaxing way: Life’s more peaceful in the countryside. | The hotel is set in tranquil surroundings.
▪ sleepy [only before noun] quiet – used about a town or village where there are not many people and very little happens: a sleepy fishing village
not saying much
▪ quiet not saying much: He’s a quiet boy who loves reading. | You’re very quiet tonight, Suzy – are you OK?
▪ silent not saying anything: Her husband was a big silent man. | Everyone was arguing but I decided to remain silent.
▪ taciturn /ˈtæsətɜːn, ˈtæsɪtɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ formal not talking much and seeming a little unfriendly or bad-tempered: He found Vaughn a taciturn and rather difficult person.
▪ reticent unwilling to talk to other people, especially about a particular subject: She’s always been reticent about her early life.
▪ a man/woman of few words someone who does not talk much, especially because they only speak when there is something important to say: My father was a man of few words, but when he spoke everyone listened.
II.quiet2 BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑quiet, ↑disquiet, ↑quietness, ↑quietism, ↑quietude; verb: ↑quieten, ↑quiet; adverb: ↑quietly; adjective: ↑quiet]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: quies 'rest, quiet']
1. the state of being quiet, calm, and peaceful:
We were enjoying the quiet of the forest.
I’ve had an awful day – now I just want some peace and quiet.
2. silence:
Can I have some quiet, please?
3. on the quiet British English informal secretly:
We found out he’d been doing some freelance work on the quiet.
q\\quiethu
quiet
When it is quiet there is no noise. | | | | | | ◎ | ['kwaiət] | | ※ | tính từ (so sánh) | | | ■ | yên lặng, êm ả, không ồn ào, ầm ĩ (không có tiếng động) | | | ☆ | her quiet voice | | | giọng nói của cô ta êm ả | | | ☆ | be quiet, please! | | | đề nghị im lặng | | | ■ | yên lặng, yên tĩnh (không di chuyển, không náo động) | | | ☆ | the sea looks quiet now | | | lúc này biển trông có vẻ lặng | | | ■ | dịu dàng, trầm lặng, hoà nhã, không mạnh mẽ | | | ☆ | a lady of a quiet disposition | | | một người phụ nữ tính tình trầm lặng | | | ■ | nhã, không loè loẹt (màu sắc) | | | ☆ | quiet colours | | | màu nhã | | | ■ | thái bình, yên ổn, thanh bình; thanh thản (không có sự kích động, hoạt động, gián đoạn) | | | ☆ | quiet times | | | thời đại thái bình | | | ☆ | lead a quiet life | | | sống một cuộc sống thanh thản | | | ☆ | quiet conscience | | | lương tâm thanh thản | | | ■ | thầm kín, kín đáo, kiềm chế, không biểu hiện ầm ĩ | | | ☆ | to harbour quiet resentment | | | nuôi một mối oán hận thầm kín | | | ☆ | have a quiet laugh about something | | | cười thầm cái gì | | | ■ | đơn giản, không hình thức | | | ☆ | a quiet weeding | | | lễ cưới đơn giản | | | 〆 | keep something quiet; keep quiet about something | | | ✓ | giữ kín một điều gì | | | 〆 | as quiet as a mouse | | | ✓ | im lặng như tờ | | ※ | danh từ | | | ■ | sự yên lặng, sự êm ả | | | ☆ | in the quiet of night | | | trong đêm khuya thanh vắng | | | ☆ | the quiet of the countryside | | | cảnh yên tĩnh của miền quê | | | ☆ | a few hours of quiet | | | một vài giờ phút êm ả | | | ■ | sự yên lặng, sự yên tĩnh | | | ■ | sự yên ổn, sự thanh bình, sự thanh thản | | | ☆ | to live in quiet | | | sống trong cảnh thanh bình | | | 〆 | on the quiet | | | ✓ | bí mật, một cách kín đáo | | | ☆ | have a drink on the quiet | | | kín đáo uống một cốc rượu | | ※ | ngoại động từ (như) quieten | | | ■ | làm lắng xuống, làm yên tĩnh (về cái gì) | | | ■ | làm êm, làm dịu, làm nín, vỗ về (ai) | | | ☆ | to quiet a fretful child | | | dỗ một em bé đang quấy | | | ☆ | quiet a frightened horse | | | vỗ về một con ngựa đang hoảng sợ | | ※ | nội động từ | | | ■ | (+ down) trở lại yên tĩnh, lắng xuống | | | ☆ | the city quieted down | | | thành phố trở lại yên tĩnh |
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