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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary con·tain ETYMOLOGY Middle English conteinen, from Anglo-French cunteign-, cuntyen-, stem of cuntenir, from Latin continēre to hold together, hold in, contain, from com- + tenēre to hold — more at thin DATE 14th century transitive verb 1. to keep within limits: as a. restrain , control could hardly contain her enthusiasm b. check , halt contain the spread of a deadly disease c. to follow successfully a policy of containment toward efforts to contain Communism 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 the bill contains several new clauses 3. a. to be divisible by usually without a remainder b. enclose , bound intransitive verb : to restrain oneself Synonyms. 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 English Etymology contain late 13c., from O.Fr . contenir, from L. continere (transitive) "to hold together, enclose," from com- "together" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Related: Container (c.1500).http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ contain con·tain / kEn5tein / verb[VN] (not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时) 1. if sth contains sth else, it has that thing inside it or as part of it 包含；含有；容纳: This drink doesn't contain any alcohol. 这种饮料不含任何酒精。 Her statement contained one or two inaccuracies. 她的陈述有一两处不准确。 a brown envelope containing dollar bills 装有钞票的棕色信封 The bottle contains (= can hold) two litres. 此瓶容量为两升。 2. to keep your feelings under control 控制,克制,抑制(感情) SYN restrain :
She was unable to contain her excitement. 她无法抑制内心的激动。 I was so furious I just couldn't contain myself (= I had to express my feelings). 我气愤极了,简直无法克制自己。 3. to prevent sth harmful from spreading or getting worse 防止…蔓延(或恶化): to contain an epidemic 防止流行病的蔓延 Government forces have failed to contain the rebellion. 政府军未能遏止叛乱。 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition v. Function: verb 1 Synonyms: COMPOSE 4, collect, control, cool, re-collect, rein, repress, restrain, simmer down, smother 2 to have or be capable of having within FF1C;the box containedfamily papersFF1E; FF1C;a mug that will contain a quart of aleFF1E; Synonyms: accommodate, hold Related Words: harbor, house, lodge, shelter; admit, receive, take, take in 3 Synonyms: INCLUDE , comprehend, embody, embrace, encompass, have, involve, subsume, take inWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged con·tain \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 > |
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