continental

See also: Continental

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɛntəl

Adjective

continental (comparative more continental, superlative most continental)

  1. Of or relating to a continent or continents.
    continental drift
    • Henry Hallam (1777-1859)
      No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances.
  2. of the mainland, as opposed to an island offshore
    continental Europe
    • 1846 The Parliamentary gazetteer of Ireland (A. Fullarton, Dublin) Vol.1 p.x "Introduction; Extent" :
      The outline of continental Ireland is proximately that of a rhomboid ; and, in a general view, is greatly more continuous or less indented and undulated by cuts and sweeps of the sea than the outline of continental Great Britain.
  3. (chiefly in the UK) Relating to, or characteristic of, continental Europe
    continental breakfast
  4. (US, historical) Of or relating to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War.
    continental money

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

Translations

Noun

continental (plural continentals)

  1. Someone from the continent.
    • 2012, Marjorie Senechal, I Died for Beauty: Dorothy Wrinch and the Cultures of Science
      Reflecting on his long career chronicling scientists, J. G. Crowther wondered why it was that in the grand debates over the nature of light, x-rays, and cathode rays, the British opted for particles and the continentals for waves.
  2. (US, historical) A member of the Continental army.
  3. (US, historical) Paper scrip (paper money) issued by the continental congress, largely worthless by the end of the war.
  4. (by extension) The smallest amount; a whit; a jot.
    not worth a continental
    I don't care a continental!

Catalan

Adjective

continental (masculine and feminine plural continentals)

  1. continental

French

Etymology

continent +‎ -al

Adjective

continental (feminine singular continentale, masculine plural continentaux, feminine plural continentales)

  1. continental

Further reading

Portuguese

Etymology

continente +‎ -al

Adjective

continental m, f (plural continentais, comparable)

  1. continental

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French continental.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌkon.ti.nenˈtal/

Adjective

continental m, n (feminine singular continentală, masculine plural continentali, feminine and neuter plural continentale)

  1. continental

Declension

Spanish

Etymology

continente +‎ -al

Adjective

continental (plural continentales)

  1. continental
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