Continent Meaning
/ˈkɒntɪnənt/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounOne 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.
nounEach 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.
Sentence Examples
Britain is separated from the Continent by the Channel.
Migrants from the continent crossed the Japan sea.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The explorer spent years traveling across the vast ____ of Asia.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Britain is separated from the ____ by the Channel.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin continens, noun use of present participle of continēre (“to contain”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"But I should turn mine ears and hear
The moanings of the homeless sea,
The sound of streams that swift or slow
Draw down Æonian hills, and sow
The dust of continents to be; […]"
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 54:
"No man is an Iland, intire of it ſelfe; euery man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; […]"
— 1624, John Donne, “17. Meditation”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, pages 415–416:
"The carkas with the streame was carried downe, / But th’head fell backeward on the continent."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"[…] Here's the scroll,
The continent and summary of my fortune."
— c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
"Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower."
— c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The explorer spent years traveling across the vast ____ of Asia.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Britain is separated from the ____ by the Channel.