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Which feature of a library catalogue indicates the content of a book?

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content

¹ American  

[kon-tent] / ˈkɒn tɛnt /

noun

1. 

   Usually contents.

   1. something that is contained.

      the contents of a box.

   2. the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.

   3. the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document.

      a table of contents.

2. something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts.

   a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.

3. significance or profundity; meaning.

   a clever play that lacks content.

4. substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation.

   publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy website, but without much content.

5. that which may be perceived in something.

   the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.

6. Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.

7. power of containing; holding capacity.

   The bowl's content is three quarts.

8. volume, area, or extent; size.

9. the amount contained.

10. Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).

11. 1. Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.

    2. any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.

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content ² American  

[kuhn-tent] / kənˈtɛnt /

adjective

1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

2. British. agreeing; assenting.

3. Archaic. willing.

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verb (used with object)

• contents,
  present (3rd person singular)
• contented,
  past participle,  past
• contenting
  present participle

1. to make content.

   These things content me.

   Synonyms:

   gratify, appease

   Antonyms:

   dissatisfy

noun

1. the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment.

   His content was threatened.

2. (in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.

content ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒntɛnt /

noun

1. (often plural) everything that is inside a container

   the contents of a box

2. (usually plural)

   1. the chapters or divisions of a book

   2. a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each

3. the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form

4. all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance

5. the capacity or size of a thing

6. the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etc

   the lead content of petrol

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content ² British  

/ kənˈtɛnt /

adjective

1. mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are

2. assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfied

   to content oneself with property

noun

1. peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction

interjection

1. (in the House of Lords) a formal expression of assent, as opposed to the expression not content

content Idioms  

1. see to one's heart's content.

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Synonym Usage

See satisfy.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• contentment
  noun
• contentness
  noun
• contentable
  adjective
• contently
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• contenting
  present
• contented
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• content
  simple
• contents
  simple
• have contented
  perfect
• has contented
  perfect
• am contenting
  progressive
• are contenting
  progressive
• is contenting
  progressive
• have been contenting
  perfect progressive
• has been contenting
  perfect progressive

Past

• contented
  simple
• had contented
  perfect
• was contenting
  progressive
• were contenting
  progressive
• had been contenting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will content
  simple
• will have contented
  perfect
• will be contenting
  progressive
• will have been contenting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of content¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Medieval Latin contentum, noun use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre “to contain”), equivalent to con- “with, together” + ten- “hold” + -tus past participle suffix; see con-

Origin of content²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin contentus “satisfied,” special use of past participle of continēre; see content ¹

Explanation

If you feel content, you're satisfied and happy. The content of a book, movie, or song is what it's about: the topic. This word has two main meanings. The first has to do with being pleased and satisfied (feeling content) or making someone else feel happy and at peace with things (contenting them). The other meaning has to do with subject matter: the content of a history class might be American history. The content of a math class might be geometry. As long as there's a topic or subject, there's content.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

content contents contented contenting

That prevents the import or sale of humanoids that are made up of less than 65% of domestic content for sale, although companies can apply for an exemption.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

But the type of content the studios release could change after the merger is completed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

Former first lady Michelle Obama launched a “Voting Squad” made up of popular content creators to try to encourage young people to get to the polls.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

But it could also include kombucha, seaweed snacks, muesli and chewing gum, depending on their sugar content.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

She made a tunnel on the floor so I could race and wiggle to my hamster heart’s content.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

At first, the relationship was mostly the source of mockery that someone of the his stature apparently needs a full-time ego masseuse who often totes around enormous bags, which have generated speculation about their contents.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sharma said she had not read the contents of the OpenAI chats.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The contents do not represent the views of the US Department of Veterans Affairs or the US Government.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

All conductors struggle with the contents of such inaugural bills, wanting them to shine a spotlight without seeming self-aggrandizing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

French authorities believed it was impossible for someone to steal the case and open it without destroying the contents.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

It’s a quiet, contented life, “solid and safe,” Livia says, except that she remains disturbed by traumas from her youth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Many fans have blamed her relationship with Kelce, suggesting that the couple’s contented monogamy means Swift has lost her edge as the queen of heartbreak songs.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026

More Europeans are wondering how contented they truly are.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

The statement added: "We would like to thank all those who gave Pru such wonderful care at the end of her life: her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love."

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025

In the forest, he grabbed mouthfuls of plants they walked by, chewing away with contented grunts.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Verstappen has reeled off four consecutive podium finishes and won three of the last four Austin races, only missing out last year when Ferrari claimed a one-two, contenting himself instead with a sprint race win.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025

By 2020, Zawahiri had become increasingly distant, contenting himself to write books and essays and only rarely appearing on video.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 1, 2022

He’s been playing it safe in Brooklyn, contenting himself with his Ma, his girlfriend and a modest managerial job at Starbucks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2020

He ate “selectively and moderately at the Kremlin dinner” and “also stayed off the vodka contenting himself with some large gulps of red wine,” according to the note.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 17, 2019

So far, from contenting themselves with the preparation of some simple aliment, for such as were an hungered, the appetites of all were solicited, by a parade of the rarest liquors and the choicest viands.

From Dealings with the Dead, Volume I (of 2) by A Sexton of the Old School

Related Words

• comfortable
• contented
• fulfilled
• gratified
• happy
• pleased
• satisfied
• willing