continents

Cultural  

1. 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.

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

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.

Example Sentences

The code is already being replicated by developers in coffee shops on three continents.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

Using mathematical models, the team estimated how often rhinos moved between continents within the Rhinocerotidae family.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

The robo-taxis will launch in 25 cities across three continents, starting in 2028, and be exclusive to Uber’s platform.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

The two continents take it in turns to host the event.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

When the crust reached the end of its journey at the boundary with continents, it plunged back into the Earth in a process known as subduction.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson