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

It is contentious as it was written in both English and Māori - which had only been a spoken language until colonisation - and the two versions contain fundamental differences when it comes to issues such as sovereignty.

From BBC

Conspiracy theories have grown up around contrails, with some people alleging they are in fact “chemtrails” that contain chemical or biological substances.

From BBC

Forest rangers are concerned about forests that haven’t burned in decades, which contain an abundance of downed wood waiting to go up in flames.

From Slate

With Gov. Gavin Newsom pushing emergency regulations on hemp products that contain intoxicating levels of THC, some worry a zero-tolerance approach will imperil a burgeoning industry.

From Los Angeles Times

Light winds coming from the ocean and favorable humidity levels Sunday helped authorities in the effort to contain the fire, which started Wednesday morning amid an extreme Santa Ana wind event.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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