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 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

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

continent

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 continents

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.)).

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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Origin of continent

Examples from the Web for continents

continent

noun

Word Origin for continent

continent

adjective

Word Origin for continent

Continent

noun

continent

continent

continent

continents

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Note