Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Pause \Pause\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Paused}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Pausing}.] [Cf. F. pauser, L. pausare. See {Pause}, n.,
   {Pose}.]
   1. To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit
      speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest. ``Tarry,
      pause a day or two.'' --Shak.

            Pausing while, thus to herself she mused. --Milton.

   2. To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.

   3. To hesitate; to hold back; to delay. [R.]

            Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. --Shak.

Pause \Pause\, n. [F., fr. L. pausa. See {Pose}.]
   1. A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action;
      interruption; suspension; cessation.

   2. Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence;
      doubt.

            I stand in pause where I shall first begin. --Shak.

   3. In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension
      of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of
      sentences and their parts.

   4. In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and
      nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation
      point; as, teach the pupil to mind the pauses.

   5. A break or paragraph in writing.

            He writes with warmth, which usually neglects
            method, and those partitions and pauses which men
            educated in schools observe.          --Locke.

   6. (Mus.) A hold. See 4th {Hold}, 7.

   Syn: Stop; cessation; suspension.

Pause \Pause\, v. t.
   To cause to stop or rest; -- used reflexively. [R.] --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

pause
     n 1: a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation
          of something [syn: {intermission}, {break}, {interruption},
           {suspension}]
     2: temporary inactivity
     v 1: interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing; "The
          speaker paused" [syn: {hesitate}]
     2: cease an action temporarily; "We pause for station
        identification"; "let's break for lunch" [syn: {intermit},
         {break}]