[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/recess/)

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# recess

noun (recess, recesses)

«recess» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. In the USA, Canada and Australia, the break between lessons when children play outside; in the UK it is called "break" or "playtime". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#m1)
2. A time when a parliament, court or other group stops working for a while. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#m2)
3. A small space set back into a wall, like an alcove. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school life, recess is when pupils eat a snack and play; teachers watch over the playground. In everyday life "a recess in the wall" can hold shelves. Phrases: at recess, during recess, recess duty, in recess.

### Examples

- We play tag at recess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x1)
- Recess is twenty minutes long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x2)
- It rained, so we had indoor recess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x3)
- Put your snack in your bag for recess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x4)
- The bookshelf fits into the recess by the fireplace. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x5)
- Parliament is in recess for the summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x6)
- Who is on recess duty today? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x7)
- But there was one recess in the wall, no larger than a bird-cage, which was the private apartment of Tinker Bell. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/#x8)

### Note

Usually uncountable for the school break: "at recess", "during recess". Plural "recesses" for spaces in a wall. Stress: "REE-sess" or "ri-SESS". In maths problems, recess times may be used for time sums: if recess starts at 10:30 and lasts 20 minutes, it ends at 10:50.

## In Jewish tradition

It means a deep hidden place, like the depths of the sea.

**Interpretation.** God asks Job if he has walked in the sea's depths. This shows that only God knows the hidden places of creation.

### Examples

- Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? (Writings JOB.38.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/recess/#x1)

### Note

Usually uncountable for the school break: "at recess", "during recess". Plural "recesses" for spaces in a wall. Stress: "REE-sess" or "ri-SESS". In maths problems, recess times may be used for time sums: if recess starts at 10:30 and lasts 20 minutes, it ends at 10:50.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «recess» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/recess/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«recess» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/recess.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «recess» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/recess/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«recess» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/recess.html) on Mova free.