[con.tain] vb [ME conteinen, fr. OF contenir, fr. L continere to hold together, hold in, contain, fr. com- + tenere to hold--more at thin] vt (14c) 1: to keep within limits: as a: restrain, control b: check, halt c: to follow successfully a policy of containment toward 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 3 a: to be divisible by usu. without a remainder b: enclose, bound ~ vi: to restrain oneself -- con.tain.able adj syn 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".