— containable , adj.
/keuhn tayn"/ , v.t.
1. to hold or include within its volume or area: This glass contains water. This paddock contains our best horses.
2. to be capable of holding; have capacity for: The room will contain 75 persons safely.
3. to have as contents or constituent parts; comprise; include.
4. to keep under proper control; restrain: He could not contain his amusement.
5. to prevent or limit the expansion, influence, success, or advance of (a hostile nation, competitor, opposing force, natural disaster, etc.): to contain an epidemic.
6. to succeed in preventing the spread of: efforts to contain water pollution.
7. Math. (of a number) to be a multiple of; be divisible by, without a remainder: Ten contains five.
8. to be equal to: A quart contains two pints.
[ 1250-1300; ME conte ( y ) nen contener, OF contenir continere, equiv. to con- CON- + tenere to hold (see TENET) ]
Syn. 1. CONTAIN, ACCOMMODATE, HOLD, express the idea that something is so designed that something else can exist or be placed within it. CONTAIN refers to what is actually within a given container. HOLD emphasizes the idea of keeping within bounds; it refers also to the greatest amount or number that can be kept within a given container. ACCOMMODATE means to contain comfortably or conveniently, or to meet the needs of a certain number. A passenger plane that ACCOMMODATES 50 passengers may be able to HOLD 60, but at a given time may CONTAIN only 30. 3. embody, embrace.