contra
1[ kon-truh ]
/ ˈkɒn trə /
preposition
against; in opposition or contrast to: Consider the problems of the teenager contra those of the adult.
adverb
contrariwise; on or to the contrary.
QUIZZES
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of contra
11350–1400; Middle English <Latin contrā
Words nearby contra
Definition for contra (2 of 4)
contra2
[ kon-truh; Spanish kawn-trah ]
/ ˈkɒn trə; Spanish ˈkɔn trɑ /
noun, plural con·tras [kon-truhz; Spanish kawn-trahs]. /ˈkɒn trəz; Spanish ˈkɔn trɑs/.
(often initial capital letter) a member of a counterrevolutionary guerrilla group in Nicaragua.
Origin of contra
2<American Spanish, shortening of contrarrevolucionariocounterrevolutionary
Definition for contra (3 of 4)
contra-1
a prefix meaning “against,” “opposite,” “opposing”: contradistinction, contraindicate.
Origin of contra-
1<Late Latin, Latin, prefixal use of adverb and preposition contrā
Definition for contra (4 of 4)
contra-2
a prefix meaning “pitched lower than” the voice or instrument specified by the following element: contralto, contrabassoon.
Origin of contra-
2<Italian <Latin; see contra-1, counterpoint
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for contra
British Dictionary definitions for contra
contra-
prefix
against; contrary; opposing; contrastingcontraceptive; contradistinction
(in music) pitched belowcontrabass
Word Origin for contra-
from Latin, from contrā against
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for contra
contra-
pref.
Against; opposite; contrasting:contraindication.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.