kənˈtān verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English conteinen, contenen, from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre, from com- + -tinēre (from tenēre to hold) — more at thin
transitive verb
1. : to keep within limits : hold back or hold down: as
a. : restrain , control
tried to contain his tendency to argue
: suppress
unable to contain his laughter
all the appearance of contained rage
not able to contain himself
b. : check , halt , withstand , stem
contain an advancing flood
economic inflation has so far been contained
contained the enemy's attack
c. : to confine (the enemy) to the immediate terrain or to a limited area : prevent (the enemy) from making a breakthrough
d. : to follow successfully a policy of containment toward (a hostile power) : hold in check
2.
a. : to have within : hold
the box contained only some old papers and a few odds and ends
b. : to consist of wholly or in part : comprise , include
the bill contains several new clauses
c. : enclose
the building contains classrooms and an auditorium
3.
a. : to have capacity for : be able to hold : be equivalent to
a bushel contains four pecks
b. : to extend over : measure , occupy
the farm contains more than 10,000 acres
c.
(1) : to be a multiple of or to be divisible by usually without a remainder
(2) : enclose , include , bound
4. : imply , entail
the conclusions are contained in the premises
5.
a. archaic : to keep or retain under or as if under control
impossible that he could at once contain … every part of his wide-extended dominions — Edward Gibbon
b. obsolete : retain , keep
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to conduct oneself : behave
2.
a. : to restrain oneself (as from laughter)
b. obsolete : to live in continence
Synonyms:
hold , accommodate : to contain is usually to have within
the top compartment contains tools most often used
old river valleys … are still visible and usually contain lakes or chains of lakes — American Guide Series: Minnesota
animal protein and animal fat contained in an ordinary mixed diet — N.C.Wright
the picture contains strange figures
To hold is usually to have the capacity to contain or retain
the jug, which holds over a gallon, contained only a pint
Often, however, the two words are used interchangeably, especially in the past tenses
the compartments of the cash register contained the various denominations of coins but were often empty
the box held his clothes and some small valueless trinkets
To accommodate is to hold conveniently or without crowding
the bus accommodates about 60 passengers and the driver