English Dictionary
Definition of “contain”
contain (kənˈteɪn
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to hold or be capable of holding or including within a fixed limit or area ⇒
this contains five pints
- to keep (one's feelings, behaviour, etc) within bounds; restrain
- to consist of; comprise ⇒
the book contains three different sections
- military to prevent (enemy forces) from operating beyond a certain level or area
- mathematics
- to be a multiple of, leaving no remainder ⇒
6 contains 2 and 3
- to have as a subset
Alternative Forms
conˈtainable adjective Word Origin
C13: from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre, from com- together + tenēre to hold
Translations
- British English:
contain
If something such as a box or a room contains things, those things are in it.The bag contained a present.kənˈteɪn VERB The bag contained a present.
- Spanish:
contener
v
- French:
contenir
v
- German:
enthalten
v
- Chinese: 包含 v
- Arabic: يَحْتَوَى عَلَى v
- Portuguese: conter v
- Russian: содержать v
- Croatian: sadržati v
- Czech: obsahovat v
- Danish: indeholde v
- Dutch: bevatten v
- Finnish: sisältää v
- Greek: περιέχω v
- Italian: contenere v
- Japanese: 含む v
- Korean: 담고 있다 v
- Norwegian: inneholde v
- Polish: zawrzeć v zawierać
- Brazilian Portuguese: conter v
- European Spanish:
contener
v
- Swedish: innehålla v
- Thai: ควบคุม v
- Turkish: içermek v
- Vietnamese: chứa đựng v
Usage examples
And a barrel of acid which according to the article appeared to contain pieces of dissolved flesh.
Dobbs, Michael, The Touch of Innocents (1994)They contain some truly amazing trees, dating back to the 15th century.
Country Life (2005)Art history teaches students how to decipher interpretative patterns, how to contain tremendous presences, how to question received truths.
Irish Times (2002)The bill is expected to contain a provision for Gaelic television.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The Lipase concentrate is taken on an empty stomach at the beginning of meals that contain fat.
Martin Budd N.D., D.O., WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT: Is Your Weight Gain a Symptom of a Hidden Health Problem? (2002)
