time–out 
/ˈtaɪmˈaʊt/ noun
plural time–outs /ˈtaɪmˈaʊt/ noun 1 : a short period of time during a sports event when the game stops and the players rest or talk to their coach [count] ▪ The coach asked for a time-out to talk to her players. ▪ The coach called a time-out. [noncount] ▪ The quarterback called time-out [=asked for a time-out] with 20 seconds remaining. 2 : a short period of time when you stop doing something so that you can rest or do something else [count] ▪ We've been working all morning. Let's take a time-out and get some coffee. [noncount] ▪ Let's take time-out for a few minutes. 3 US : a short period of time when a child must sit quietly as punishment for behaving badly [count] ▪ The book talks about the proper way to use time-outs. ▪ If you do that again, you're getting a time-out! = If you do that again, I'm giving you a time-out! [noncount] ▪ There's no talking during time-out.
