continent

[ kon-tn-uh nt ]

/ ˈkɒn tn ənt /

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

contiguity, contiguous, contiguously, contin., continence, continent, continental, continental army, continental breakfast, continental celtic, continental climate

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 forms

un·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 continents

When the artist themselves is often continents away, those artistic decisions are made by the artisan.
Damien Hirst’s Army of Geppettos|Tim Teeman|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With an unprecedented epidemic spreading across countries and continents, including our own, it should give us reason, too.
Meet the Liberian Girls Beating Ebola|Abby Haglage|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the seven months since the epidemic began, Ebola has spread across borders, countries, and now continents.
Why Isn't Silicon Valley Doing More to Fight Ebola?|Abby Haglage|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mars has no tectonic plates—no continents, in other words—and no ginormous moon.
The Best Map of Mars Yet|Matthew R. Francis|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I ended up an investment banker at J.P. Morgan & Co, eventually serving as a managing director on three continents.
A Catholic Ex-Banker on Pope Francis’s Radical Views|Chris Lowney|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Coasts and islands have a tendency to a cool spring and warm autumn; continents, to similar temperatures in both spring and fall.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5|Various
Some of the most characteristic features of the scenery of two continents seem to be epitomised in the district all around.
Capitals of the Northlands|Ian C. Hannah
Little did I think when I acted under the Klieg lights that the fate of two continents would some day depend on this gift of mine.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various
As a rule, insular countries are richer in cloud scenery than continents.
Beauties and Antiquities of Ireland|T. O. Russell
So remarkable a contrast is doubtless explicable by the different geological histories of the two continents.
South America Observations and Impressions|James Bryce

British Dictionary definitions for continents (1 of 3)

continent

/ (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

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 continents (2 of 3)

continent

/ (ˈkɒntɪnənt) /

adjective

able to control urination and defecation

exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste

Derived Forms

continence or continency, nouncontinently, adverb

Word Origin for continent

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

British Dictionary definitions for continents (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

Science definitions for continents

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.

Culture definitions for continents

continents

The large parts of the surface of the Earth that rise above sea level. The seven major continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Note

Continents are made from the lightest rocks in the Earth. Some of these are also the oldest known rocks on Earth, with an age of 3.5 billion years, measured by radioactive dating.

Note

According to the theory of plate tectonics, continents move along piggy-back on the tectonic plates like rafts floating on water.

continent

noun

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of continent

Related forms

Examples from the Web for continents

British Dictionary definitions for continents (1 of 3)

continent

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for continent

British Dictionary definitions for continents (2 of 3)

continent

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for continent

British Dictionary definitions for continents (3 of 3)

Continent

noun

Science definitions for continents

continent

Culture definitions for continents

continents

Note

Note