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contain

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To contain is defined as to serve as a vessel or holder for something, to be made up of different things or the act of restraining yourself or your emotions.

(verb)

An example of contain is when a house has furniture within it.
An example of contain is when a book has five different short stories within it.
An example of contain is when you want to cry but don't.

See contain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to have in it; hold, enclose, or include: the can contains tea, the list contains 50 items
to have the capacity for holding
to be equivalent to: a gallon contains four quarts
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
to be divisible by, esp. without a remainder: 10 contains 5 and 2

Origin: 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:

containable adjective

See contain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb con·tained, con·tain·ing, con·tains

a. To have within; hold.
b. To be capable of holding.
To have as component parts; include or comprise: The album contains many memorable songs.
a. To hold or keep within limits; restrain: I could hardly contain my curiosity.
b. To halt the spread or development of; check: Science sought an effective method of containing the disease.
To check the expansion or influence of (a hostile power or ideology) by containment.
Mathematics To be exactly divisible by.