contain

One entry found for contain.

Main Entry: con·tain
Pronunciation: k&n-'tAn
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English conteinen, from Anglo-French cunteign-, cuntyen-, stem of cuntenir, from Latin continEre to hold together, hold in, contain, from com- + tenEre to hold -- more at THIN
transitive verb
1 : to keep within limits: as a : RESTRAIN, CONTROL <could hardly contain her enthusiasm> b : CHECK, HALT <contain the spread of a deadly disease> c : to follow successfully a policy of containment toward <efforts to contain Communism> d : to prevent (as an enemy or opponent) from advancing or from making a successful attack
2 a : to have within : HOLD b : COMPRISE, INCLUDE <the bill contains several new clauses>
3 a : to be divisible by usually without a remainder b : ENCLOSE, BOUND
intransitive verb : to restrain oneself
- con·tain·able /-'tA-n&-b&l/ adjective
synonyms CONTAIN, HOLD, ACCOMMODATE mean to have or be capable of having within. CONTAIN implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something <the can contains a quart of oil>. HOLD implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping <the bookcase will hold all my textbooks>. ACCOMMODATE stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience <the hall can accommodate 500 people>.