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Elementary Dictionary
       

con·tain

contain

 
 
pronunciation:
kn teIn
features:
Word Parts
part of speech: verb
inflections: contains, containing, contained
definition 1: When something is contained, it is in or inside of something else. When a food contains salt, it means that the food has salt in it. If a box contains cereal, it means that the box has cereal inside it.
Books for small children usually contain pictures.Ava can't eat any foods that contain peanuts.Sam's dad brought home a big box, and Sam hoped it contained something really great for his birthday.
synonyms:
hold
similar words:
enclose, surround
definition 2: When you contain something, you hold it back or keep it inside something. When you contain your anger, you don't let it out. You don't show your anger to anyone or do anything about it. If you contain an animal, you keep it in an area and don't let it out. If doctors contain a disease, they don't let it spread.
Darnell's dad looked so funny in his new shorts that even Darnell's mom couldn't contain her laughter.The firefighters worked hard to contain the forest fire.Lucy is not so scared of the neighbor's dog now that he is contained inside a tall fence.
synonyms:
control, hold
similar words:
check, curb, limit
derivation: containable (adj.)
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