recess

[ri-ses, ree-ses] /rɪˈsɛs, ˈri sɛs/
noun
1.
temporary withdrawal or cessation from the usual work or activity.
2.
a period of such withdrawal.
3.
a receding part or space, as a bay or alcove in a room.
4.
an indentation in a line or extent of coast, hills, forest, etc.
5.
recesses, a secluded or inner area or part:
in the recesses of the palace.
verb (used with object)
6.
to place or set in a recess.
7.
to set or form as or like a recess; make a recess or recesses in:
to recess a wall.
8.
to suspend or defer for a recess:
to recess the Senate.
verb (used without object)
9.
to take a recess.
Origin
1510-20; < Latin recessus a withdrawal, receding part, equivalent to recēd(ere) to recede1 + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > ss
Related forms
nonrecess, noun
Synonyms
1. respite, rest, break, vacation.
Examples from the web for recess
  • recess has, in many districts, vanished from the schedule entirely.
  • Remote sensors or a manual push button shoots the net up from a two-inch-wide recess in the ground in as little as three seconds.
  • We'd watch the mushroom clouds from the playground at recess.
  • Systemic risk is due to be considered separately after the summer recess.
  • Perhaps such stagnation comes with the recess in real personal freedom.
  • These models change quickly and won't get you beat up at recess.
  • Bring recess and gym back into the school curriculum.
  • He swathes his story in atmospherics: no one is without his wreath of cigarette smoke, no recess without its shadowy figure.
  • The trial is set to resume this week after a month's recess.
  • In the end, she makes a scholarly argument for the benefits of sandboxes, recess and goofing off.
British Dictionary definitions for recess

recess

noun (rɪˈsɛs; ˈriːsɛs)
1.
a space, such as a niche or alcove, set back or indented
2.
(often pl) a secluded or secret place: recesses of the mind
3.
a cessation of business, such as the closure of Parliament during a vacation
4.
(anatomy) a small cavity or depression in a bodily organ, part, or structure
5.
(US & Canadian) a break between classes at a school
verb (rɪˈsɛs)
6.
(transitive) to place or set (something) in a recess
7.
(transitive) to build a recess or recesses in (a wall, building, etc)
Word Origin
C16: from Latin recessus a retreat, from recēdere to recede
Word Origin and History for recess
n.

1530s, "act of receding," from Latin recessus "a going back, retreat," from recessum, past participle of recedere "to recede" (see recede). Meaning "hidden or remote part" first recorded 1610s; that of "period of stopping from usual work" is from 1620s, probably from parliamentary notion of "recessing" into private chambers.

v.

1809, from recess (n.). Related: Recessed; recessing.

recess in Medicine

recess re·cess (rē'sěs', rĭ-sěs')
n.
A small hollow or an indented area.