/ siːs; NAmE / verb
( formal ) to stop happening or existing; to stop sth from happening or existing :
[ v ]
Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job.
[ v to inf ]
You never cease to amaze me!
[ vn ]
They voted to cease strike action immediately.
He ordered his men to cease fire (= stop shooting) .
[ v -ing ]
The company ceased trading in June.
—see also cessation
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IDIOMS
see wonder noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French cesser , from Latin cessare stop, from cedere to yield.