contain

[ kuhn-teyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to hold or include within its volume or area:

   This glass contains water.

   This paddock contains our best horses.

2. to be capable of holding; have capacity for:

   The room will contain 75 persons safely.

3. to have as contents content or constituent parts; comprise; include.

   Synonyms: embrace, embody

4. to keep under proper control; restrain:

   He could not contain his amusement.

5. to prevent or limit the expansion, influence, success, or advance of (a hostile nation, competitor, opposing force, natural disaster, etc.):

   to contain an epidemic.

6. to succeed in preventing the spread of:

   efforts to contain water pollution.

7. Mathematics. (of a number) to be a multiple of; be divisible by, without a remainder:

   Ten contains five.

8. to be equal to:

   A quart contains two pints.

contain

/ kənˈteɪn /

verb

1. to hold or be capable of holding or including within a fixed limit or area

   this contains five pints

2. to keep (one's feelings, behaviour, etc) within bounds; restrain
3. to consist of; comprise

   the book contains three different sections

4. military to prevent (enemy forces) from operating beyond a certain level or area
5. maths
   1. to be a multiple of, leaving no remainder

      6 contains 2 and 3

   2. to have as a subset

Derived Forms

• conˈtainable, adjective

Other Words From

• con·taina·ble adjective
• precon·tain verb (used with object)
• uncon·taina·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contain¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English conte(y)nen, from Anglo-French contener, Old French contenir, from Latin continēre, equivalent to con- con- + -tinēre, verb suffix of tenēre “to hold” ( tenet )

Word History and Origins

Origin of contain¹

C13: from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre, from com- together + tenēre to hold

Synonym Study

Contain, accommodate, hold, express the idea that something is so designed that something else can exist or be placed within it. Contain refers to what is actually within a given container. Hold emphasizes the idea of keeping within bounds; it refers also to the greatest amount or number that can be kept within a given container. Accommodate means to contain comfortably or conveniently, or to meet the needs of a certain number. A passenger plane that accommodates 50 passengers may be able to hold 60, but at a given time may contain only 30.

Example Sentences

Lee said he only picked out 10 pieces of sushi and nigiri because most of the other options contained shellfish, to which he’s allergic.

From Salon

It then mapped whether, and to what extent, each activity caused forms of disruption including light, noise and water pollution, as well as physical damage to the coastline and seabed and the habitats they contained.

From Science Daily

He added that Biden’s inability to contain and stop the war in Gaza and now Lebanon made Gulf governments see him as weak.

From Los Angeles Times

The proposed agreement on new finance for climate - published Thursday morning - currently contains no figure.

From BBC

The report contains conflicting information over how intoxicated each of them were.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accommodate
• consist of
• enclose
• encompass
• have
• incorporate
• involve