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Contiguous vs Continental - What's the difference?

contiguous | continental |

As adjectives the difference between contiguous and continental

is that contiguous is connected; touching; abutting while continental is of or relating to a continent or continents.

As a noun continental is

someone from "the continent".

contiguous

English

Adjective

(-)
  • connected; touching; abutting
  • adjacent; neighbouring/neighboring
  • * 1730–1774 , , Introductory to Switzerland
  • Though poor the peasant’s hut, his feasts though small,
    He sees his little lot the lot of all;
    Sees no contiguous palace rear its head
    To shame the meanness of his humble shed;
  • * 1835 , William Scoresby, Memorials of the Sea (page 59)
  • the usual quietness of the day, with us, was broken in upon by the shout of success from the pursuing boats, followed by vehement respondings from the contiguous ship.
  • connecting without a break
  • The forty-eight contiguous states.
  • * 1886 , Frank Hamilton Cushing, A Study of Pueblo Pottery as Illustrative of Zuñi Culture Growth :
  • Supposing three such houses to be contiguous to a central one, each separated from the latter by a straight wall.

    Derived terms

    * contiguousness

    See also

    * conterminous

    References

    * *

    continental

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or relating to a continent or continents.
  • :
  • *(Henry Hallam) (1777-1859)
  • *:No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances.
  • In the main part of a country or region, as opposed to on one of its islands.
  • :
  • Characteristic of the style of continental Europe, as opposed to British.
  • :
  • *
  • *:“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
  • Of or relating to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War.
  • :
  • Synonyms

    * (in the main part of a country or region, as opposed to on one of its islands ): mainland * (characteristic of the style of continental Europe ) European

    Antonyms

    * (characteristic of the style of continental Europe ): British, English

    Derived terms

    * continental breakfast * continental drift * continental plate * continental quilt * continental shelf * continental slope

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone from "the continent".
  • (US History) A member of the Continental army.
  • (US History) Paper scrip (paper money) issued by the continental congress, largely worthless by the end of the war (hence the expression "not worth a continental")
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