noun / proper noun
continent
KAHN-tih-nuhnt/kˈɑntʌnʌnt/
One of Earth's major continuous landmasses.
On the globe, Africa stands out as one large continent.
Etymology
The idea of “holding together” gave Latin continens the meaning “continuous.” Applied to land, it described a continuous tract, which became the name for one of the earth’s major landmasses.
In context
Spread right across the continent, the puff adder dominates the carpet viper's small sliver of West African territory.
More examples
- Asia is the largest continent on Earth.
- The Atlantic Ocean separates several continents.
- They leave Britain to explore the Continent, starting in France.
Forms
continent · continents
continental adjective — Relating to a continent or its mainland.
Similar words
- landmass
- Any large continuous area of land, not necessarily a continent.
- mainland
- The principal land area, contrasted with nearby islands.