from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Continent \Con"ti*nent\, n. [L. continens, prop., a holding
together: cf. F. continent. See {Continent}, a.]
1. That which contains anything; a receptacle. [Obs.]
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The smaller continent which we call a pipkin. --Bp.
Kennet.
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2. One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main
land; specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land
differing from an island, not merely in its size, but in
its structure, which is that of a large basin bordered by
mountain chains; as, the continent of North America.
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Note: The continents are now usually regarded as six in
number: North America, South America, Europe, Asia,
Africa, and Australia. But other large bodies of land
are also reffered to as continents; as, the Antarctic
continent; the continent of Greenland. Europe, Asia,
and Africa are often grouped together as the Eastern
Continent, and North and South America as the Western
Continent.
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{The Continent}, the main land of Europe, as distinguished
from the islands, especially from England.
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