adj. & n.
--adj.
1. of or characteristic of a continent.
2 (Continental) Brit. of, relating to, or characteristic of mainland Europe.
--n. an inhabitant of mainland Europe.
Phrases and idioms:
continental breakfast a light breakfast of coffee, rolls, etc. continental climate a climate having wide variations of temperature. continental drift Geol. the hypothesis that the continents are moving slowly over the surface of the earth on a deep-lying plastic substratum. continental quilt Brit. a duvet. continental shelf an area of relatively shallow seabed between the shore of a continent and the deeper ocean.
Derivatives:
continentally adv.