contain Hear it!

contain definition

con·tain (kən tān′)

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

Archaic to restrain one's feelings

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

contain Synonyms

contain

v.

  1. To include

    hold, accommodate, comprehend, embrace, be composed of, comprise, enclose, receive, admit, seat, bear, carry, consist of, harbor; see also include 1.

  2. To restrict

    restrain, hold, keep back, check; see restrain 1.

contain, in strict usage, signifies the idea of enclosing within or including as a component, part, or fraction, and hold, the capacity for containing the bottle contains two ounces of liquid, but it holds a pint; to accommodate is to hold comfortably without crowding an elevator built to accommodate twelve people


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

contain Usage Examples

Object

  • information: Often these folders contain more information than in the proof sets.

Preposition: on

  • site: The information contained on this site is for general guidance only.

Preposition: within

  • dustjacket: This is a near fine copy contained within a near fine dustjacket.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • such: Updating is particularly important when the file contains information such as a weekly schedule or a deadline for a program funding announcement.

Adjective complement

  • less: Remember, a pile containing less than 16 cubes represents an underweight loaf.

Preposition: in

  • document: Further metering information is contained in the two documents on the right hand side.
contain usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

contain quotes

There are two things which I am confident I can do very well: one is an introduction to a literary work, stating what it is to contain, and how it should be executed in the most perfect manner; the other is a conclusion, shewing from various causes why the execution has not been equal to what the author promised to himself and to the public.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

contain quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"contain." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/contain>

APA Style

contain. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/contain

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