Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: cesser, from Latin cessare 'to delay', from cedere; CEDE

cease

1 verb
     
cease1 W3 [intransitive and transitive]
1 formal to stop doing something or stop happening
cease to do something
He ceased to be a member of the association.
The things people will do for charity never cease to amaze me (=I am always surprised by them).
cease doing something
the decision to cease using CFCs in packaging
The rain ceased and the sky cleared.
cease trading/production/operations etc (=stop operating a business)
The company ceased production at their Norwich plant last year.
cease fire! (=used to order soldiers to stop shooting)
2

cease and desist

law to stop doing something
➔ ceasefire

; ➔ wonders will never cease

at wonder2 (5)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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