noun
plural -cesses
[noncount] US :a short period of time during the school day when children can play
a usually brief period of time during which regular activity in a court of law or in a government stops [count]
[count] :a dark, hidden place or part - usually plural; often + of
[count] :a part of a wall that is set back from the rest of the wall
verb
-cesses; -cessed; -cessing
US :to stop regular activity in a court of law or in a government for a usually short period of time [no obj]