a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
"The teacher took a brief pause before continuing her lecture to let the students absorb the complex information."
temporary inactivity
"The engine was turned off to allow for a brief pause before restarting it."
A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
"He pressed the pause button on his DVD player to skip over the annoying commercial."
A button whose functions are pausing and resuming something, such as a DVD player, a video game or a computer.
In plain English: A pause is a short break where you stop doing something for just a little while before starting again.
"The audience waited for a brief pause in her speech before applauding."
To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
"After running up the steep hill, she paused to catch her breath before continuing the race."
In plain English: To pause means to stop what you are doing for a short time before starting again.
"Please pause your story for just a moment while I catch my breath."
Usage: Use pause to indicate taking a brief break from activity rather than stopping permanently. It often functions as both a verb and noun when referring to a momentary interruption in speech or action.
The word "pause" entered English in the 16th century via Middle French and Latin, ultimately tracing back to an ancient Greek root meaning "to stop." Although its ultimate origins are unclear, it shares a common ancestor with other words for stopping or halting across many languages.