Continents

[kon-tn-uh nt] /ˈkɒn tn ənt/

noun
1.
one of the main landmasses of the globe, usually reckoned as seven in number (Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica).
2.
a comparable landmass on another planet.
3.
the mainland, as distinguished from islands or peninsulas.
4.
the Continent, the mainland of Europe, as distinguished from the British Isles.
5.
a continuous tract or extent, as of land.
6.
Archaic. something that serves as a container or boundary.
adjective
7.
exercising or characterized by restraint in relation to the desires or passions and especially to sexual desires; temperate.
8.
able to control urinary and fecal discharge.
9.
Obsolete. ; being a container; capacious.
10.
Obsolete. restraining or restrictive.
11.
Obsolete. continuous; forming an uninterrupted tract, as land.
/ˈkɒntɪnənt/
noun
1.
one of the earth’s large land masses (Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Antarctica)
2.
that part of the earth’s crust that rises above the oceans and is composed of sialic rocks. Including the continental shelves, the continents occupy 30 per cent of the earth’s surface
3.
(obsolete)

/ˈkɒntɪnənt/
adjective
1.
able to control urination and defecation
2.
exercising self-restraint, esp from sexual activity; chaste
/ˈkɒntɪnənt/
noun
1.
the Continent, the mainland of Europe as distinguished from the British Isles
adj.

late 14c., “self-restraining,” from Old French continent and directly from Latin continentem (nominative continens) “holding together, continuous,” present participle of continere “hold together” (see contain). Meaning moved from “exercising self-restraint” to “chaste” 14c., and to bowel and bladder control 19c.
n.

“large land mass,” 1550s, from continent land (mid-15c.), translating Latin terra continens “continuous land,” from continens, present participle of continere (see continent (adj.)).
continent
(kŏn’tə-nənt)
One of the seven great landmasses of the Earth. The continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

The large parts of the surface of the Earth that rise above sea level. The seven major continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Note: Continents are made from the lightest rocks in the Earth. Some of these are also the oldest known rocks on Earth, with an age of 3.5 billion years, measured by radioactive dating.

Note: According to the theory of plate tectonics, continents move along piggy-back on the tectonic plates like rafts floating on water.