peace
♦♦♦ peace /p'iːs/
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
If countries or groups involved in a war or violent conflict are discussing peace, they are talking to each other in order to try to end the conflict.
Leaders of some rival factions signed a peace agreement last week...
They hope the treaty will bring peace and stability to Southeast Asia.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft at N
If there is peace in a country or in the world, there are no wars or violent conflicts going on.
The President spoke of a shared commitment to world peace and economic development.
...the Nobel Peace Prize.
≠ war
3 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
If you disapprove of weapons, especially nuclear weapons, you can use peace to refer to campaigns and other activities intended to reduce their numbers or stop their use.
...two peace campaigners accused of causing damage to an F1-11 nuclear bomber...
4 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
If you have peace, you are not being disturbed, and you are in calm, quiet surroundings.
All I want is to have some peace and quiet and spend a couple of nice days with my grandchildren...
One more question and I'll leave you in peace.
5 [N-UNCOUNT] oft at N
If you have a feeling of peace, you feel contented and calm and not at all worried. You can also say that you are at peace.
I had a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity when I saw my husband...
6 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
If there is peace among a group of people, they live or work together in a friendly way and do not quarrel. You can also say that people live or work in peace with each other.
...a period of relative peace in the country's industrial relations...
7 [N-IN-NAMES] the N of n
The Peace of a particular place is a treaty or an agreement that was signed there, bringing an end to a war. (OLD-FASHIONED)
The Peace of Ryswick was signed in September 1697.
8
see also breach of the peace, Justice of the Peace
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you hold or keep your peace, you do not speak, even though there is something you want or ought to say. (FORMAL)
...people who knew about this evil man but held their peace...
= keep quiet
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone in authority, such as the army or the police, keeps the peace, they make sure that people behave and do not fight or quarrel with each other.
...the first UN contingent assigned to help keep the peace in Cambodia...
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v, for PHR
If something gives you peace of mind, it stops you from worrying about a particular problem or difficulty.
He began to insist upon a bullet-proof limousine, just for peace of mind.
12 [PHRASE] usu PHR after modal
If you express the wish that a dead person may rest in peace, you are showing respect and sympathy for him or her. `Rest in peace' is also sometimes written on gravestones. (FORMAL)breach of the peace (breaches of the peace)
[N-VAR]
A breach of the peace is noisy or violent behaviour in a public place which is illegal because it disturbs other people. (LEGAL)
He admitted causing a breach of the peace...
Four men were found guilty of breach of the peace.peace divi|dend (peace dividends)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The peace dividend is the economic benefit that was expected in the world after the end of the Cold War, as a result of money previously spent on defence and arms becoming available for other purposes.
The peace dividend has not materialised despite military spending going down in most countries.peace of|fer|ing (peace offerings)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
You can use peace offering to refer to something that you give someone to show that you want to end the quarrel between you.
`A peace offering,' Roberts said as he handed the box of cigars to Cohen.peace pro|cess (peace processes)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, oft the N
A peace process consists of all the meetings, agreements, and negotiations in which people such as politicians are involved when they are trying to arrange peace between countries or groups that are fighting with each other.
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
If countries or groups involved in a war or violent conflict are discussing peace, they are talking to each other in order to try to end the conflict.
Leaders of some rival factions signed a peace agreement last week...
They hope the treaty will bring peace and stability to Southeast Asia.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft at N
If there is peace in a country or in the world, there are no wars or violent conflicts going on.
The President spoke of a shared commitment to world peace and economic development.
...the Nobel Peace Prize.
≠ war
3 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
If you disapprove of weapons, especially nuclear weapons, you can use peace to refer to campaigns and other activities intended to reduce their numbers or stop their use.
...two peace campaigners accused of causing damage to an F1-11 nuclear bomber...
4 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
If you have peace, you are not being disturbed, and you are in calm, quiet surroundings.
All I want is to have some peace and quiet and spend a couple of nice days with my grandchildren...
One more question and I'll leave you in peace.
5 [N-UNCOUNT] oft at N
If you have a feeling of peace, you feel contented and calm and not at all worried. You can also say that you are at peace.
I had a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity when I saw my husband...
6 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
If there is peace among a group of people, they live or work together in a friendly way and do not quarrel. You can also say that people live or work in peace with each other.
...a period of relative peace in the country's industrial relations...
7 [N-IN-NAMES] the N of n
The Peace of a particular place is a treaty or an agreement that was signed there, bringing an end to a war. (OLD-FASHIONED)
The Peace of Ryswick was signed in September 1697.
8
see also breach of the peace, Justice of the Peace
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you hold or keep your peace, you do not speak, even though there is something you want or ought to say. (FORMAL)
...people who knew about this evil man but held their peace...
= keep quiet
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone in authority, such as the army or the police, keeps the peace, they make sure that people behave and do not fight or quarrel with each other.
...the first UN contingent assigned to help keep the peace in Cambodia...
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v, for PHR
If something gives you peace of mind, it stops you from worrying about a particular problem or difficulty.
He began to insist upon a bullet-proof limousine, just for peace of mind.
12 [PHRASE] usu PHR after modal
If you express the wish that a dead person may rest in peace, you are showing respect and sympathy for him or her. `Rest in peace' is also sometimes written on gravestones. (FORMAL)breach of the peace (breaches of the peace)
[N-VAR]
A breach of the peace is noisy or violent behaviour in a public place which is illegal because it disturbs other people. (LEGAL)
He admitted causing a breach of the peace...
Four men were found guilty of breach of the peace.peace divi|dend (peace dividends)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The peace dividend is the economic benefit that was expected in the world after the end of the Cold War, as a result of money previously spent on defence and arms becoming available for other purposes.
The peace dividend has not materialised despite military spending going down in most countries.peace of|fer|ing (peace offerings)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
You can use peace offering to refer to something that you give someone to show that you want to end the quarrel between you.
`A peace offering,' Roberts said as he handed the box of cigars to Cohen.peace pro|cess (peace processes)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, oft the N
A peace process consists of all the meetings, agreements, and negotiations in which people such as politicians are involved when they are trying to arrange peace between countries or groups that are fighting with each other.