continent

[kon-tn-uh nt] /ˈkɒn tn ənt/
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
7.
exercising or characterized by restraint in relation to the desires or passions and especially to sexual desires; temperate.
8.
able to control urinary and fecal discharge.
9.
Obsolete, containing; being a container; capacious.
10.
Obsolete. restraining or restrictive.
11.
Obsolete. continuous; forming an uninterrupted tract, as land.
Origin
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
uncontinent, adjective
uncontinently, adverb
Examples from the web for continents
  • Our students come from around the corner and across continents.
  • As more and more companies move to the global marketplace, it is common for work teams to span continents and time zones.
  • Even if that is an over-statement, the broad difference between continents is clear.
  • The impact may even have triggered plate-tectonic activity, which causes the continents to move around.
  • Nor any of the other continents whose failings became his subject over the following years.
  • Transporting works of art across countries and continents is still a risky undertaking.
  • MY husband has had his wallet stolen or rifled four times on three continents, making him a world expert of a sort.
  • Viruses have depleted the native populations of several continents.
  • His trade voyages united three continents and established the first global trading network.
  • Due to the plodding geological shifts of the continents, the city is sinking at a rate of two and a half inches per decade.
British Dictionary definitions for continents

continent1

/ˈkɒntɪnənt/
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
Derived Forms
continental (ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl) adjective
continentally, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from the Latin phrase terra continens continuous land, from continēre; see contain

continent2

/ˈkɒntɪnənt/
adjective
1.
able to control urination and defecation
2.
exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste
Derived Forms
continence, continency, noun
continently, adverb
Word Origin
C14: from Latin continent-, present participle of continēre; see contain

Continent

/ˈkɒntɪnənt/
noun
1.
the Continent, the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles
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.

n.

"large land mass," 1550s, from continent land (mid-15c.), translating Latin terra continens "continuous land," from continens, present participle of continere (see continent (adj.)).

continents in Science
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.
continents in Culture

continents definition


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.