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What is the difference between contain and content?

contain | content | Related terms |

Content is a related term of contain.



In transitive terms the difference between contain and content

is that contain is to put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds while content is to give contentment or satisfaction; to satisfy; to gratify; to appease.

As a noun content is

that which is contained.

As an adjective content is

satisfied; in a state of satisfaction.

contain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (lb) To hold inside.
  • *
  • At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=[The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria,
  • (lb) To include as a part.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2014-04-21, volume=411, issue=8884, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Subtle effects , passage=Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated.}}
  • (lb) To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
  • * (Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves.
  • *
  • Athelstan Arundel walked home all the way, foaming and raging. No omnibus, cab, or conveyance ever built could contain a young man in such a rage. His mother lived at Pembridge Square, which is four good measured miles from Lincoln's Inn.
  • To have as an element.
  • To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
  • * Bible, vii. 9.
  • But if they can not contain , let them marry.

    Synonyms

    * (hold inside) enclose, inhold * (include as part) comprise, embody, incorporate, inhold * (limit by restraint) control, curb, repress, restrain, restrict, stifle

    Antonyms

    * (include as part) exclude, omit * (limit by restraint) release, vent

    content

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) ; see contain.

    Noun

  • (uncountable) That which is contained.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author=(Oliver Burkeman)
  • , volume=189, issue=2, page=27, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= The tao of tech , passage=The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about "creating compelling content ", or
  • Subject matter; substance.
  • * Grew
  • I shall prove these writingsauthentic, and the contents true, and worthy of a divine original.
  • The amount of material contained; contents.
  • Capacity for holding.
  • * (Francis Bacon)
  • Strong ships, of great content .
  • (mathematics) The n''-dimensional space contained by an ''n''-dimensional polytope (called ''volume'' in the case of a polyhedron and ''area in the case of a polygon).
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl), from (etyl) content, from (etyl) ; see contain.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Satisfied; in a state of satisfaction.
  • *
  • *:This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.He was smooth-faced, and his fresh skin and well-developed figure bespoke the man in good physical condition through active exercise, yet well content with the world's apportionment.
  • Derived terms
    * contentment
    Synonyms
    * (satisfied) contented, pleased, satisfied

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) , from (contenter); see content as a verb.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Satisfaction; contentment
  • They were in a state of sleepy content after supper.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Such is the fullness of my heart's content .
  • (obsolete) acquiescence without examination
  • * Alexander Pope
  • The sense they humbly take upon content .
  • That which contents or satisfies; that which if attained would make one happy.
  • * Shakespeare
  • So will I in England work your grace's full content .
  • (UK, House of Lords) An expression of assent to a bill or motion; an affirmate vote.
  • (UK, House of Lords) A member who votes in assent.
  • Derived terms
    * discontent * malcontent

    Etymology 4

    From (etyl) contenter, from ; see content as an adjective.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To give contentment or satisfaction; to satisfy; to gratify; to appease.
  • You can't have any more - you'll have to content yourself with what you already have.
  • * Bible, Mark xv. 15
  • Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them.
  • * I. Watts
  • Do not content yourselves with obscure and confused ideas, where clearer are to be attained.
  • (obsolete) To satisfy the expectations of; to pay; to requite.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.