Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

recess

1. re.cess \'re--.ses, ri-'\ n [L recessus, fr. recessus, pp. of recedere 
   to recede] 1: RECESSION  2: a hidden, secret, or secluded place  3a: 
   INDENTATION, CLEFT  3b: ALCOVE  4: a suspension of business procedure 
2. recess vt 1: to put into a recess {~ed lighting}  2: to make a recess in 
    3: to interrupt for a recess  : to take a recess