continental
pronunciation
How to pronounce continental in British English:
UK [ˌkɒntɪˈnentl]
How to pronounce continental in American English:
US [ˌkɑːntɪˈnentl]
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- Adjective:
- of or pertaining to or typical of Europe
- of or relating to or concerning the American colonies during and immediately after the Revolutionary War
- of or relating to or characteristic of a continent
- being or concerning or limited to a continent especially the continents of North America or Europe
Word Origin
- continental (adj.)
- 1818 as a purely geographical term, from continent + -al (1). In reference to the European mainland (as opposed to Great Britain), recorded from 1760. Continental breakfast (the kind eaten on the continent as opposed to the kind eaten in Britain) is attested by 1855. In reference to the British American colonies from 1774; the Continental Congress is attested from 1775; continental divide in use by 1865; continental rise in geology from 1959; continental slope from 1907. Continental shelf first attested 1888.
Example
- 1. Continental europe offers fewer examples of working-time innovations .
- 2. Continental europeans are surprised too-and annoyed .
- 3. History is rich with examples of minor regulatory tweaks driving continental shifts in financial markets business .
- 4. Some continental europeans remain relatively slender .
- 5. This includes numerous advances of continental glaciers .