Definition of: continent

(kon′tə·nənt) noun
1. One of the great bodies of land on the globe, generally regarded as six in number: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America: Antarctica is sometimes regarded as the seventh continent.
2. Obs. That which contains; a boundary: also, that which is contained.
—the Continent Europe, exclusive of the British Isles.
—adj.
1. Self–restrained; abstinent; chaste.
2. Obs. Restraining; limiting. [<OF <L continens, -entis, ppr. of continere. See CONTAIN.]
—con·ti·nen·tal (kon′·tə·nen′təl) adjective
—con′ti·nent·ly adverb