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contain

 - 3 dictionary results

con⋅tain

  [kuhn-teyn]
Use contain in a Sentence
–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 or constituent parts; comprise; include.
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.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME conte(y)nen < AF contener, OF contenir < L continēre, equiv. to con- con- + tenēre to hold (see tenet )

Related forms:
con⋅tain⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. 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. 3. embody, embrace.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To contain
con·tain   (kən-tān')   
tr.v.   con·tained, con·tain·ing, con·tains

    1. To have within; hold.

    2. To be capable of holding.

    3. To hold or keep within limits; restrain: I could hardly contain my curiosity.

    4. To halt the spread or development of; check: Science sought an effective method of containing the disease.

  2. To have as component parts; include or comprise: The album contains many memorable songs.

    1. To hold or keep within limits; restrain: I could hardly contain my curiosity.

    2. To halt the spread or development of; check: Science sought an effective method of containing the disease.

  4. To check the expansion or influence of (a hostile power or ideology) by containment.

  5. Mathematics To be exactly divisible by.


[Middle English conteinen, from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre : com-, com- + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
con·tain'a·ble adj.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to have within or have a capacity. Contain means to have within or have as a part or constituent: The book contains some amusing passages.
Hold stresses capacity for containing: The pitcher holds two pints but contains only one.
Accommodate refers to capacity for holding comfortably: The restaurant accommodates 50 customers.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

contain 
c.1290, from O.Fr. contenir, from L. continere (transitive) "to hold together, enclose," from com- "together" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Containment as a foreign policy strategy is from 1947.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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