continent

[ kon-tn-uhnt ]

/ ˈkɒn tn ənt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: continent / continents 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.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM continent

un·con·ti·nent, adjectiveun·con·ti·nent·ly, adverb

Words nearby continent

contg., contiguity, contiguous, contin., continence, continent, continental, Continental Army, continental breakfast, Continental Celtic, continental climate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use continent in a sentence

Still, prices across the continent are likely to be pressured amid excess supply, said Rupert Claxton, meat director at consultant Gira.
Europe is on high alert after a deadly swine virus emerges in Germany|Bernhard Warner|September 10, 2020|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.
Slow, meandering hurricanes are often more dangerous—and they’re getting more common|Greta Moran|September 9, 2020|Popular-Science
Many of the continent’s highlights are in the Northern Territory, an area left unscathed during last season’s wildfires.
27 Epic Trips to Start Planning Now|The Editors|September 8, 2020|Outside Online
These hordes can cross continents, eating through crops along the way.
A single chemical may draw lonely locusts into a hungry swarm|Jonathan Lambert|September 7, 2020|Science News For Students

Projects like ReGen villages, the so-called “Tesla of ecovillages,” now partnering with municipalities on four continents.
Solarpunk Is Growing a Gorgeous New World in the Cracks of the Old One|Carin Ism|September 6, 2020|Singularity Hub
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
Gurira says she approaches her work with a dual-continent mindset.
Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira Vs. Boko Haram|Kristi York Wooten|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
There are some other trees planted, and many small, thrifty forests, such as I had hardly seen before on the Continent.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
These form one of the many island groups that hang like a fringe or festoon on the skirt of the continent of Asia.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Thence they have spread all over the continent of South America, and have proved of more real value to it than its mines.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
It is extensively used in the manufacture of cigars, and on the continent it frequently realizes as much as 5s.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for continent (1 of 3)

continent¹

/ (ˈkɒntɪnənt) /

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 forms of continent

continental (ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl), adjectivecontinentally, adverb

Word Origin for continent

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

British Dictionary definitions for continent (2 of 3)

continent²

/ (ˈkɒntɪnənt) /

adjective

able to control urination and defecation

exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste

Derived forms of continent

continence or continency, nouncontinently, adverb

Word Origin for continent

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

British Dictionary definitions for continent (3 of 3)

Continent

/ (ˈkɒntɪnənt) /

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

Scientific definitions for continent

continent

[ kŏn′tə-nənt ]

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

continent

Origin of continent

OTHER WORDS FROM continent

Words nearby continent

Words related to continent

How to use continent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for continent (1 of 3)

Derived forms of continent

Word Origin for continent

British Dictionary definitions for continent (2 of 3)

Derived forms of continent

Word Origin for continent

British Dictionary definitions for continent (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for continent