continent

[kon-tn-uh nt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR continent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

a comparable landmass on another planet.

the mainland, as distinguished from islands or peninsulas.

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

a continuous tract or extent, as of land.

Archaic. something that serves as a container or boundary.

adjective

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

able to control urinary and fecal discharge.

Obsolete. containing; being a container; capacious.

Obsolete. restraining or restrictive.

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

Nearby words

Origin of continent

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin continent- (stem of continēns, present participle of continēre to contain), equivalent to con- con- + -tin-, combining form of ten- hold + -ent- -ent

Related formsun·con·ti·nent, adjectiveun·con·ti·nent·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for continent

Opponents of Muslims and immigrants across the continent are claiming vindication in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
World War II is still a long way off, but the seeds of conflict are already being sown on the continent.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It can be hard to wrap your head around the problems facing the continent because they might seem ancient to us.
Silicon Valley Sets Its Sights on Africa|Christian Borys|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this is often seen as little more than a way of trying to defame Edward III on the continent.
The Sex Life of King Richard III's Randy Great Great Great Grandfather|Tom Sykes|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The last time a Pope addressed the parliament in Strasbourg was in 1988 when an Iron Curtain still divided the continent.
Pope’s Blistering Attack on ‘Haggard’ Europe|Nico Hines|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But we had again to assist the Continent to strike the fetters off.
A Soldier's Experience or A Voice from the Ranks: Showing the Cost of War in Blood and Treasure|Timothy Gowing
Probably not one of those tribesmen has ever set foot on the American continent, let alone in Chicago.
The Cruise of the O Moo|Roy J. Snell
Bertie, I think your girl is worth the rest of this continent.
The Relentless City|Edward Frederic Benson
He inherited a considerable fortune from his father, and as a young man travelled much on the Continent.
English Heraldic Book-stamps|Cyril Davenport
The greater part of these have been planted since the arrival of the Europeans on the American continent.
In Search of the Castaways|Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for continent

continent

noun

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

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

obsolete

mainland as opposed to islands
a continuous extent of land

Derived Formscontinental (ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl), adjectivecontinentally, adverb

Word Origin for continent

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

adjective

able to control urination and defecation

exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste

Derived Formscontinence or continency, nouncontinently, adverb

Word Origin for continent

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

Continent

noun

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

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 continent

continent

adj.

late 14c., "self-restraining," from Old French continent and directly from Latin continentem (nominative continens) "holding together, continuous," present participle of continere "hold together" (see contain). Meaning moved from "exercising self-restraint" to "chaste" 14c., and to bowel and bladder control 19c.

continent

"large land mass," 1550s, from continent land (mid-15c.), translating Latin terra continens "continuous land," from continens, present participle of continere (see continent (adj.)).