pause; intermission; break; interruption; suspension
音信の途絶えが三年続いた。
Three years passed with no word from them.
交通の途絶えで山岳集落が孤立した。
A mountain village was cut off due to disruption of transport links.
長い途絶えの後に旧友から突然連絡が届いた。
After a long silence, an old friend suddenly got in touch.