content

[ kon-tent ]

/ ˈkɒn tɛnt /

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noun

Usually contents.

something that is contained: the contents of a box.
the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document: a table of contents.

something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts: a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.

significance or profundity; meaning: a clever play that lacks content.

substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation: publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy website, but without much content.

that which may be perceived in something: the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.

Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.

power of containing; holding capacity: The bowl's content is three quarts.

volume, area, or extent; size.

the amount contained.

Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).

Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.Compare primitive polynomial.
any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.

Nearby words

contempt of court, contemptible, contemptuous, contend, contender, content, content analysis, content farm, content marketing, content provider, content word

Origin of content

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Medieval Latin contentum, noun use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre to contain), equivalent to con- con- + ten- hold + -tus past participle suffix

Definition for contents (2 of 2)

content

[ kuhn-tent ]

/ kənˈtɛnt /

adjective

satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

British. agreeing; assenting.

Archaic. willing.

verb (used with object)

to make content: These things content me.

noun

the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment: His content was threatened.

(in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.

Origin of content

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin contentus satisfied, special use of past participle of continēre; see content¹

SYNONYMS FOR content

4 appease, gratify. See satisfy.

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ANTONYMS FOR content

4 dissatisfy.

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Related formscon·tent·a·ble, adjectivecon·tent·ly, adverbcon·tent·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contents

When I saw it listed on the contents page, I thought, “Why would he write about a song that insipid?”
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs|Allen Barra|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Tarantino nixed that idea, instead choosing to have the contents be whatever you want it to be.
The Secrets of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary|Marlow Stern|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It contents were instantly irrelevant, news from another century.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11|John Avlon|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Inhofe, as the GOP head of the committee that controls that bill, is in a good position to influence its contents.
Republicans Offer Obama ISIS War Authorization He Doesn’t Want|Josh Rogin|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After it reached Ethiopia, the contents were distributed and sold out in under two weeks.
'Made in China' Now Being Made in Africa|Brendon Hong|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The door of the dining-room is faced with looking-glass, so that it may reflect the contents of the conservatory.
A Week's Tramp in Dickens-Land|William R. Hughes
At the same time 2000 waggons were on the rails of the Petrograd station, their contents lying unutilized.
England and Germany|Emile Joseph Dillon
The silk shops are the finest in the bazaar, but their contents are excessively dear, and are not very good.
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.|E. Rameur
Not to go over the preliminaries again, I did, when the proper time came, touch my tongue with the contents of the third jar.
The Five Jars|Montague Rhodes James
The opening or dehiscence of the anthers to discharge their contents takes place either by clefts, by valves, or by pores.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for contents (1 of 2)

content

/ (ˈkɒntɛnt) /

noun

(often plural) everything that is inside a containerthe contents of a box

(usually plural)

the chapters or divisions of a book
a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each

the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form

all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance

the capacity or size of a thing

the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etcthe lead content of petrol

Word Origin for content

C15: from Latin contentus contained, from continēre to contain

British Dictionary definitions for contents (2 of 2)

content

/ (kənˈtɛnt) /

adjective (postpositive)

mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are

assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc

verb

(tr) to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfiedto content oneself with property

noun

peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction

interjection

British (in the House of Lords) a formal expression of assent, as opposed to the expression not content

Derived Formscontently, adverbcontentment, noun

Word Origin for content

C14: from Old French, from Latin contentus contented, that is, having restrained desires, from continēre to restrain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contents (1 of 4)

"things contained" in something (the stomach, a document, etc.), early 15c., Latin contentum (plural contenta), neuter past participle of continere (see contain). Table of contents is late 15c.

Word Origin and History for contents (1 of 4)

content

early 15c., from Middle French contenter, from content (adj.) "satisfied," from Latin contentus "contained, satisfied," past participle of continere (see contain). Sense evolved through "contained," "restrained," to "satisfied," as the contented person's desires are bound by what he or she already has. Related: Contented; contentedly.

Word Origin and History for contents (2 of 4)

content

adj.

c.1400, from Old French content, "satisfied," from Latin contentus "contained, satisfied," past participle of continere (see contain). Related: Contently (largely superseded by contentedly).

Word Origin and History for contents (3 of 4)

content

"that which is contained," early 15c., from Latin contentum, contenta, noun use of past participle of continere (see contain). Meaning "satisfaction" is from 1570s; heart's content is from 1590s (Shakespeare).

Medicine definitions for contents

content

[ kŏn′tĕnt′ ]

n.

Something contained, as in a receptacle.

The proportion of a specified substance present in something else, as of protein in a food.

The subject matter or essential meaning of something, especially a dream.

Idioms and Phrases with contents

content

see to one's heart's content.

content

noun

RELATED CONTENT

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Nearby words

Origin of content

Definition for contents (2 of 2)