1 (interruption) pausa (f); also (Mús) (silence) silencio (m); (rest) descanso (m) after a moment's pause he went on speaking tras una breve pausa continuó hablando; there was a pause while the rest came in se hizo una pausa mientras entraban los demás; there was a pause for refreshments hubo un descanso para tomar refrigerios; there was an awkward pause in the conversation se produjo un silencio incómodo en medio de la conversación
my signal will be three knocks, a pause, then two more is speech was punctuated with long pauses as he struggled for breath /during a brief pause/ in the proceedings /I went out to make a phone call/ President Mubarak yesterday ruled out a pause in the Gulf War they declared called a pause in the current hostilities for peace negotiations John Major flatly ruled out the option of a pause for negotiations with Sadam Hussein he moved only slowly with frequent pauses to gather strength
to give sb pause give pause to sb hacer vacilar a algn
the gale raging outside was sufficient to give pause to even the most courageous climber several events in the past three days had given him pause to reconsider the man he thought he knew so well the extended separation gave her pause to reflect on their relationship
to give sb pause for thought dar que pensar a algn
perhaps his beliefs haven't been totally shaken, but /it has certainly given him pause for thought/ an opposition spokesman said he hoped the agreement would give them pause for thought about the futility of violence the problem of what to do with the children had never given her pause for thought
without (a) pause sin interrupción
he talked for two hours almost without a pause we carried on without pause I read on without pause the admiral chattered away without pause about his naval career the bombing campaign against Iraq continues without pause "who paid for it?" - without pause he retorted: "I did"
2 (on cassette-player) botón (m) de pausa to press pause you can press pause while recording a programme to eliminate parts you do not wish to include
