The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recess \Re*cess"\ (r[-e]*s[e^]s"), n. [L. recessus, fr.
   recedere, recessum. See Recede.]
   1. A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat; as, the
      recess of the tides.
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            Every degree of ignorance being so far a recess and
            degradation from rationality.         --South.
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            My recess hath given them confidence that I may be
            conquered.                            --Eikon
                                                  Basilike.
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   2. The state of being withdrawn; seclusion; privacy.
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            In the recess of the jury they are to consider the
            evidence.                             --Sir M. Hale.
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            Good verse recess and solitude requires. --Dryden.
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   3. Remission or suspension of business or procedure;
      intermission, as of a legislative body, court, or school;
      as, the children were allowed to play in the school yard
      during recess.
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            The recess of . . . Parliament lasted six weeks.
                                                  --Macaulay.
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   4. Part of a room formed by the receding of the wall, as an
      alcove, niche, etc.
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            A bed which stood in a deep recess.   --W. Irving.
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   5. A place of retirement, retreat, secrecy, or seclusion.
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            Departure from this happy place, our sweet
            Recess, and only consolation left.    --Milton.
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   6. Secret or abstruse part; as, the difficulties and recesses
      of science; the deepest recesses of the mind. --I. Watts.
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   7. (Bot. & Zool.) A sinus.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recess \Re*cess"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recessed; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Recessing.]
   To make a recess in; as, to recess a wall.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recess \Re*cess"\, n. [G.]
   A decree of the imperial diet of the old German empire.
   --Brande & C.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

recess
    n 1: a state of abeyance or suspended business [syn: deferral,
         recess]
    2: a small concavity [syn: recess, recession, niche,
       corner]
    3: an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky
       headlands) [syn: inlet, recess]
    4: an enclosure that is set back or indented [syn: recess,
       niche]
    5: a pause from doing something (as work); "we took a 10-minute
       break"; "he took time out to recuperate" [syn: respite,
       recess, break, time out]
    v 1: put into a recess; "recess lights"
    2: make a recess in; "recess the piece of wood"
    3: close at the end of a session; "The court adjourned" [syn:
       adjourn, recess, break up]