As a Noun: 1. A situation in which you tell someone a secret or someone tells you a secret. English = confidence. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To keep a secret or a confidence; to not speak about something. Idiomatic English = hold one's tongue. 2. Used to describe information which is meant to be kept secret. English = confidential. 3. To say nothing about something bad; to not complain about something wrong or unjust; to not speak out.