First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
discontinue
verb dis·con·tin·ue \ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-(ˌ)yü\
: to end (something)
: to stop making or offering (a product, service, etc.)
Full Definition of DISCONTINUE
transitive verb
1
: to break the continuity of : cease to operate, administer, use, produce, or take
2
: to abandon or terminate by a legal discontinuance
intransitive verb
: to come to an end
— dis·con·tin·u·a·tion \-kən-ˌtin-yə-ˈwā-shən, -yü-ˈā-\ noun
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Origin of DISCONTINUE
Middle English, from Anglo-French discontinuer, from Medieval Latin discontinuare, from Latin dis- + continuare to continue
Related to DISCONTINUE
Synonym Discussion of DISCONTINUE
stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity. stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness <stopped at the red light>. cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality <by nightfall the fighting had ceased>. quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing <the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether>. discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice <we have discontinued the manufacture of that item>. desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing <desisted from further efforts to persuade them>.
DISCONTINUING Defined for Kids
discontinue
verb dis·con·tin·ue \ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yü\
dis·con·tin·ueddis·con·tinu·ing
Definition of DISCONTINUE for Kids
: to bring to an end : stop <She discontinued her weekly visits.>
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