0 to allow someone else to have or own something, especially unwillingly or because you are forced to do so: --
Hong Kong was ceded to Britain after the Opium War.
1 to give control or possession of something, esp. land to someone else, often unwillingly or because forced to do so: --
New Orleans was ceded to Spain in 1763.
2 to give something such as control, power, or a right to someone else, especially unwillingly: --
Most of the responsibilities for health care have been ceded to the regions.
The man to whom possession was ceded has the right to the sharecropping agreement.
The basis upon which sovereign authorities exercise political power is this executive power of the law of nature ceded to them by their subjects.
Legislators have a motive to frame statutes unambiguously lest they cede too much power to subordinates.
Measures to control aggregate expenditure involved the state ceding most of its responsibilities for health care to the regions.
In performance-driven scores, the composer will often cede certain sections of the piece to the performer.
The party at the parliamentary median may share government ministries with parties to its left or right without ceding policy control.
Coalitions allow agents to take advantage of economies of scale, without necessarily ceding authority to other agents.
