Added 5 October 2026
continent
/ˈkɒntɪnənt/ noun
Latin root: continens Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about continent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- One of the main contiguous landmasses, separated by water or geological features, on the surface of a planet, sometimes including its continental shelves and the islands on them.
- Each of the traditional main regions into which the Earth’s land surface is divided, including both an extent of mainland and various conventionally associated islands, etc; namely, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australasia/Oceania, North America, South America, and Antarctica.
- A large contiguous landmass as opposed to its islands, peninsulas, and so forth; mainland. Also specifically, the Old World continent of Europe–Asia–Africa: see the Continent.
adjective
- Exercising self-restraint; controlled, temperate with respect to one’s bodily needs or passions, especially sex.
- Having voluntary control over one’s urination or defecation.
-
Not interrupted; connected; continuous, whether in time or space.
a continent fever
Origin
Borrowed from Latin continens, noun use of present participle of continēre (“to contain”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)