recess

¹re·cess

noun \ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈ\

Definition of RECESS

1

: the action of receding : recession

2

: a hidden, secret, or secluded place or part

3

a : indentation, cleft <a deep recess in the hill> b : alcove <a recess lined with books>

4

: a suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation <children playing at recess>

Examples of RECESS

1. The students play outside after lunch and at recess.
2. Do you have morning recess?
3. The Senate debates will continue after the August recess.
4. The Senate wanted to vote on the bill before recess.

Origin of RECESS

Latin recessus, from recedere to recede

First Known Use: 1531

Related to RECESS

Synonyms: alcove, nook, niche

Antonyms: bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance

Related Words: corner, cranny, cubbyhole; cubicle; dent, embrasure, indent, indentation, indenture; ambry, housing, shrine

Near Antonyms: continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression; extension, prolongation

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with RECESS

abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress