continent

[kon-tn-uhnt]

noun

1. one of the main landmasses of the globe, usually reckoned as seven in number (Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica).

2. a comparable landmass on another planet.

3. the mainland, as distinguished from islands or peninsulas.

4. the Continent, the mainland of Europe, as distinguished from the British Isles.

5. a continuous tract or extent, as of land.

6. Archaic.,  something that serves as a container or boundary.

adjective

1. exercising or characterized by restraint in relation to the desires or passions and especially to sexual desires; temperate.

2. able to control urinary and fecal discharge.

3. Obsolete.,  containing; being a container; capacious.

4. Obsolete.,  restraining or restrictive.

5. Obsolete.,  continuous; forming an uninterrupted tract, as land.

continent

¹

/ ˈkɒntɪnənt, ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl /

noun

1. one of the earth's large land masses (Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Antarctica)

2. that part of the earth's crust that rises above the oceans and is composed of sialic rocks. Including the continental shelves, the continents occupy 30 per cent of the earth's surface

3. obsolete

   1. mainland as opposed to islands

   2. a continuous extent of land

continent

²

/ ˈkɒntɪnənt /

adjective

1. able to control urination and defecation

2. exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste

Continent

³

/ ˈkɒntɪnənt /

noun

1. the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles

continent

1. One of the seven great landmasses of the Earth. The continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Other Word Forms

• uncontinent adjective
• uncontinently adverb
• continental adjective
• continentally adverb
• continently adverb
• continence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of continent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin continent-, stem of continēns “holding together,” present participle of continēre “to hold together, keep in position,” equivalent to con- con- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”; contain

Word History and Origins

Origin of continent¹

C16: from the Latin phrase terra continens continuous land, from continēre ; see _contain

Origin of continent²

C14: from Latin continent-, present participle of continēre; see _contain

Example Sentences

She will tell attendees that European options are needed if the continent is to remain in control of its economy.

Read more on Barron's

Scientists warn that without a sharp global reduction in carbon emissions, these transformations could have serious effects not only for the continent but also for Australia and the rest of the planet.

Read more on Science Daily

"And collective action for sustainability that centres the development to address the impact of colonialism of the African continent."

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One key aim is to clarify Berlin's position on the European Commission's radical plans to protect the continent's steel industry from cheap foreign imports.

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As an expert witness, my role has been to bring the experiences of this continent’s first peoples into legal proceedings where their rights as tribal citizens and as Americans were being challenged.

Read more on Salon