Main Entry: con·tain

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈtān\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English conteinen, from Anglo-French cunteign-, cuntyen-, stem of cuntenir, from Latin continēre to hold together, hold in, contain, from com- + tenēre to hold — more at thin

Date: 14th century

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, boundintransitive verb : to restrain oneself

— con·tain·able \-ˈtā-nə-bəl\ 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>.