qui‧et 1 S2 W2 / kwaɪət / 形容词 ( comparative quieter , superlative quietest )
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 同义词 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?
► Do not confuse quiet with quite (=fairly).
— quietness 名词 [不可数名词] → 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 [仅用于名词前] 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 [仅用于名词前] 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 / tæsətɜn, tæsɪtɜn $ -ɜrn / 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.