continental Definition
- 1forming or belonging to a continent
- 2relating to or characteristic of a continent, especially in being densely populated, culturally diverse, and having an industrial economy
Using continental: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "continental" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The continental climate is characterized by hot summers and cold winters.
Example
The United States is a continental country with two coasts.
Example
The continental breakfast included coffee, juice, and pastries.
Example
The continental shelf is the area of seabed around a large landmass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean.
continental Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with continental
the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time
Example
The theory of continental drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912.
a high ridge of the Rocky Mountains that separates rivers flowing eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean from rivers flowing westward toward the Pacific Ocean
Example
The Continental Divide Trail runs along the spine of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico.
a foreign policy of Napoleon Bonaparte designed to blockade Great Britain by excluding British goods from the European continent
Example
The Continental System was one of the main causes of the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain.
Origins of continental
from Latin 'terra continens', meaning 'continuous land'
Summary: continental in Brief
The term 'continental' [ˌkɒntɪˈnɛnt(ə)l] refers to something forming or belonging to a continent, or relating to its characteristics such as dense population, cultural diversity, and industrial economy. Examples include the continental climate, the continental breakfast, and the continental shelf. Phrases like 'continental drift' and 'continental divide' denote geological features, while 'continental system' refers to a foreign policy of Napoleon Bonaparte.
