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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

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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

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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

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a commercial agreement to supply content on Google platforms and a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

His goal is to teach students to develop their own creative processes, so they can filter through generative AI content with awareness, discernment and critical thinking, rather than using it as a passive shortcut.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

The authors are solely responsible for the content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the funding organizations.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 11, 2026

It has also highlighted the challenges facing libraries and publishers in checking the authenticity of books as AI-generated content becomes more widespread.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026

We say goodbye and exchange shy, content smiles.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

The sublingual strips’ foil packet read “Warning: For research use only” in tiny print on the back, an indication the contents are meant for lab study only and haven’t been vetted for human consumption.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

AFP was unable to verify the contents of the profile, or who had written it, but has attempted to contact the companies cited.

From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026

In October, it was revealed that Khawaja had met with Cummins to discuss the contents of the upcoming autobiography.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026

Mr. El-Sayed said “that ad was not made by me, and I do not agree with the contents of that ad,” but he refused to “play the condemn game.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

I emptied its contents into mine, stacked one inside the other, swung them onto my head, and off we went.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

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

A genuinely contented polity would be indifferent to such criticism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Sturgeon also said she was "contented" and "at peace" with her decision to quit politics.

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026

Kathy was confident that this would ease her worry, would end with Aisha dropping back into Kathy’s lap, contented and sleepy.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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

Remembering the words of the stranger, he took with him nothing that could in any way injure the boy, contenting himself by taking with him one gift only—an apple.

From Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia An account of an Englishwoman's Eight Years' Residence amongst the Women of the East by A. Hume-Griffith

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Related Words

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

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