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

/ ˈkɒntɪnənt /

adjective

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

Continent

²

/ ˈkɒntɪnənt /

noun

1. the Continent
   the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles

continent

³

/ ˈkɒntɪnənt; 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

continent

/ kŏn′tə-nənt /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈcontinently, adverb
• ˈcontinence, noun
• continental, adjective
• ˌcontiˈnentally, adverb

Other Words From

• un·conti·nent adjective
• un·conti·nent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of continent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin continent-, stem of continēns “holding together,” present participle of continēre “to hold together, keep in position,” equivalent to con- con- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”; contain

Word History and Origins

Origin of continent¹

C14: from Latin continent-, present participle of continēre; see contain

Origin of continent²

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

Example Sentences

Brown's peaches aren't your everyday peaches, they're heirlooms: direct descendants of peach seeds brought across the continent on the Trail of Tears.

From Salon

There’s a shortage of growth capital: By Wehmeier’s calculations, the continent has underfunded later-stage start-ups by about $375 billion over the past decade, partly because of a lack of pension fund investment in venture capital.

From New York Times

"The European Union will continue to advance support to help achieve victory for Ukraine and to bring peace to our continent," he said in a video shared on X.

From BBC

"While they may generate sympathy and donations, they perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa's economic growth, tourism, and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity."

From BBC

Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa were among the top or fastest-growing nations from the continent to send students to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times