transitive verb

1. to have in it; hold, enclose, or include the can contains tea, the list contains 50 items
2. to have the capacity for holding
3. to be equivalent to a gallon contains four quarts
4. to hold back or within fixed limits; specif.,
   1. to restrain (one's feeling, oneself, etc.)
   2. to check the power, expansion, or influence of
5. to be divisible by, esp. without a remainder 10 contains 5 and 2

Etymology: ME conteinen < OFr contenir < L continere, to hold < com-, together + tenere, to hold: see thin

intransitive verb