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 Continent
   the Continent the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles

continent

/ kŏn′tə-nənt /

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

Derived Forms

• continental, adjective
• ˌcontiˈnentally, adverb
• ˈcontinence, noun
• ˈcontinently, adverb

Other Words From

• un·conti·nent adjective
• un·conti·nent·ly adverb

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, prices across the continent are likely to be pressured amid excess supply, said Rupert Claxton, meat director at consultant Gira.

From Fortune

This is thought to be largely due to belts all along the northern parts of the continents where the snow has been melting much earlier due to climate change.

From Popular-Science

Many of the continent’s highlights are in the Northern Territory, an area left unscathed during last season’s wildfires.

From Outside Online

These hordes can cross continents, eating through crops along the way.

From Science News For Students

Projects like ReGen villages, the so-called “Tesla of ecovillages,” now partnering with municipalities on four continents.

From Singularity Hub 

Opponents of Muslims and immigrants across the continent are claiming vindication in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.

From The Daily Beast

World War II is still a long way off, but the seeds of conflict are already being sown on the continent.

From The Daily Beast

It can be hard to wrap your head around the problems facing the continent because they might seem ancient to us.

From The Daily Beast

But this is often seen as little more than a way of trying to defame Edward III on the continent.

From The Daily Beast

Gurira says she approaches her work with a dual-continent mindset.

From The Daily Beast

For good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.

From Project Gutenberg

There are some other trees planted, and many small, thrifty forests, such as I had hardly seen before on the Continent.

From Project Gutenberg

These form one of the many island groups that hang like a fringe or festoon on the skirt of the continent of Asia.

From Project Gutenberg

Thence they have spread all over the continent of South America, and have proved of more real value to it than its mines.

From Project Gutenberg

It is extensively used in the manufacture of cigars, and on the continent it frequently realizes as much as 5s.

From Project Gutenberg