1.pause是指由于不能马上决定或对某件事情的反应较慢而使某一动作或行为(如说话、演出、休息、睡眠等)暂时停止。本词不表明停止的原因或持续的时间,往往含有期待再开始的意味。
2.pause是不及物动词,常接时间短语作状语,也接介词for表示“为…而停止”。

pause for(v.+prep.)
因…而暂停 stop for sth
▲pause for sth
He didn't pause for breath until he reached the top floor.他一直爬到顶楼才停下来歇口气。
We paused for the red light at State College Street.我们在州立大学大街上因遇到红灯而停了一下。

pause on〔upon〕(v.+prep.)
仔细地考虑 think about sth carefully
▲pause on〔upon〕 sth
Let me pause on these matters for a time before I make a decision.让我把这些事情好好想一想再作决定。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
They paused a while. 他们停了一会儿。
Gemma paused an instant in the doorway.吉玛在门口稍停了片刻。
As he passed the next cabin he paused a minute.当他走过隔壁客舱时,他停了一会儿。
She paused a little and Philip pressed her to tell it.她踌躇了一下,但菲利普催她把那件事说出来。
She paused at the door out of fear.由于害怕,她在门口迟疑了一下。
The dog paused when it heard me.狗听到我的声音停了下来。
▲S+～+to-v
The man paused to look round.那人停下来看看四周。
The joggers paused to catch their breath.慢跑者们暂停下来以便喘口气。

pause, cease, stop
这组词都有“停止”的意思。其区别在于：
1.pause多指片刻的停顿或“暂停”。
2.stop是普通用词,既可指动作、行为的迅速中断,也可指某种状态的结束。例如:
They stopped for a brief rest.他们停下来休息片刻。
He began to speak but suddenly stopped.他开始讲话,但又突然停住了。
Seeing that I was coming, they stopped talking.看见我来了,他们停止了谈话。
She could not stop the child crying.她止不住孩子的哭声。
3.cease属正式用语,多表示某种状态的结束,不用来表示动作、行为的突然中断。例如:
The storm has ceased.暴风雨停止了。
His influence ceased with his death.他的影响已随着他去世而消失了。
He ceased from teaching.他结束了教书生涯。
At last they have ceased work.最后他们停止工作了。

他跑得太快了,一下子停不下来。
［误］  He was running so fast that he couldn't pause himself.
［正］  He was running so fast that he couldn't stop himself.
即使失败,我们也绝不停止试验。
［误］  Even if we fail, we will not pause trying.
［正］  Even if we fail, we will not stop trying.
［析］  pause只能用作不及物动词,其后不能直接接宾语。

1.pause用作名词的意思是“中止”“停顿”,常用来指说话、朗读中的换气或停顿的地方,也指战争期间的停火等。
2.pause常与介词in连用。

give one pause〔give pause to it〕
令人深思; 令人犹豫 think over; consider sth carefully, especially before reaching a decision; make sb hesitate
For a man who held that to take even an ant's life is evil, the offering of a million lives gives one pause.一个不忍心踩死蚂蚁的人却不珍惜千百万条的生命,确实令人深思。
He turned it over in his mind and gave one pause.他在脑中想了想,犹豫了一番。

After a little pause, he went on with his speech.稍停一会儿后,他又继续讲演。
After a short pause he added gravely to me,“ I think we ought to help them.”停了一会儿后,他接着严肃地对我说：“我认为我们应当帮助他们。”
The lady spoke for an hour without a pause.那女人不停地讲了一个小时。
Government sources said there would be no prolonged pause in the war.据官方消息,这场战争的时间不会长。

pause, break
参见break条。

［同义词］ v.  break, cease, cut, delay, desist, halt, rest, wait n.  break, delay, dwell, halt, lull, stay, wait
［词源］  ＜拉丁语pausa(暂停)