any of the world's main continuous expanses of land (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, Antarctica) 洲(指欧、亚、非、南北美、澳、南极洲之一),大陆 ■(亦作 the Continent)the mainland of Europe as distinct from the British Isles (有别于英伦三岛的)欧洲大陆 ■a mainland contrasted with islands (与岛屿相对而言的)大陆 the maritime zone is richer in varieties of plant than the continent. 海域植物品种比大陆丰富。
语源
mid 16th cent. (denoting a continuous tract of land): from Latin terra continens 'continuous land'
continent2 adjective
able to control movements of the bowels and bladder 能控制排泄的,有正常排泄节制力的
exercising self-restraint, especially sexually 自制的,自律的;有节制的;节制性欲的,禁欲的
派生 continence noun continently adverb 语源
late Middle English(in the sense 'characterized by self-restraint' ): from Latin continent- 'holding together, restraining oneself', from continere (see contain)