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

Still, no matter what scrutiny, expect more executives on both continents to be ensnared in such incidents in the future, said John Coffee, a professor at Columbia Law School, who specializes in corporate governance issues.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

This has enabled the French to maintain military bases on every continent: More than 8,000 troops are stationed in overseas territories, including around 2,500 in the Indo-Pacific.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Russia, not long ago a rising military force in Africa, is now struggling to maintain its footprint on the continent.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The country of nearly 30 million people is often referred to as a mini-Africa because its many ethnic groups and diverse geographic and climatic zones are seen as emblematic of the continent.

Read more on Barron's

Spain were the first European team to win the World Cup outside the continent, when they lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010.

Read more on BBC