Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

continent

[ kon-tn-uhnt ]

noun

  1. one of the main landmasses of the globe, usually reckoned as seven in number (Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica).
  2. a comparable landmass on another planet.
  3. the mainland, as distinguished from islands or peninsulas.
  4. the Continent, the mainland of Europe, as distinguished from the British Isles.
  5. a continuous tract or extent, as of land.
  6. Archaic. something that serves as a container or boundary.


adjective

  1. exercising or characterized by restraint in relation to the desires or passions and especially to sexual desires; temperate.
  2. able to control urinary and fecal discharge.
  3. Obsolete. containing; being a container; capacious.
  4. Obsolete. restraining or restrictive.
  5. Obsolete. continuous; forming an uninterrupted tract, as land.

Continent

1

/ ˈɒԳɪəԳ /

noun

  1. 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

continent

2

/ ˈɒԳɪəԳ; ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl /

noun

  1. one of the earth's large land masses (Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Antarctica)
  2. 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
  3. obsolete.
    1. mainland as opposed to islands
    2. a continuous extent of land
“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

continent

3

/ ˈɒԳɪəԳ /

adjective

  1. able to control urination and defecation
  2. exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste
“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

continent

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

Derived Forms

  • continental, adjective
  • ˌDzԳپˈԱԳٲ, adverb
  • ˈDzԳپԱԳٱ, adverb
  • ˈDzԳپԱԳ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·Dzt·ԱԳ adjective
  • ܲ·Dzt·ԱԳ·ly adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of continent1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin continent-, stem of DzԳپŧԲ “holding together,” present participle of DzԳپŧ “to hold together, keep in position,” equivalent to con- con- + -پŧ, combining form of ٱŧ “to hold”; contain
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of continent1

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

Origin of continent2

C14: from Latin continent-, present participle of DzԳپŧ; see contain
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, she pledged that the National's next chapter would be known for telling "bold stories in big ways, which cross continents, move hearts and open minds".

From

Many Catholics in Africa are hoping that that the papacy will return to the continent for the first time in more than 1,500 years, as a successor to Pope Francis is chosen.

From

From an office perched on the scalloped edge of the continent, Victoria Bradley jokes that she has the most beautiful doctor's practice in Australia.

From

Ten of the 12 states on the continent received the lowest level of 10%.

From

Ukraine and its European allies have in recent weeks expressed alarm over what many on the continent see as Trump's warming of relations with Vladimir Putin's Russia.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


continencecontinental