recess

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
recess /rɪˈsɛs, ˈriːsɛs/

▶noun

• 1 a small space set back in a wall.

  ■ a hollow space within something.

  ■ (recesses) remote, secluded, or secret places.

• 2 a period when the proceedings of a parliament, law court, etc. are temporarily suspended.

  ■ chiefly N. Amer. a break between school classes.

▶verb

• 1 (usu. as adj. recessed) set (a fitment) back into a wall or other surface.

• 2 chiefly N. Amer. (of proceedings) be temporarily suspended.

  ■ (of an official body) suspend its proceedings temporarily.

– origin C16: from L. recessus, from recedere (see recede).