continental
About mainland Europe, not the islands like Britain or Ireland.
Relating to or characteristic of mainland Europe, especially as distinct from the British Isles or other nearby islands.
Describes weather in places far from the sea, with very hot summers and very cold winters.
Describing a climate with hot or warm summers and cold winters, typical of inland areas far from the moderating influence of the sea.
About the main land part of a country, not its islands or land far away.
Relating to the main continuous land area of a country, as opposed to its islands or overseas territories, especially in phrases like “continental United States.”
Describes a light breakfast with bread or pastries and a drink, not a big cooked meal.
Describing a light, European-style breakfast that usually includes bread or pastries, butter, jam, and coffee or tea, but no cooked items like eggs or bacon.
A person who comes from mainland Europe, not from Britain or other islands.
A person from mainland Europe, especially as contrasted with someone from Britain or another nearby island.
About the thirteen American colonies during the American Revolution, especially in names like “Continental Congress.”
Relating to the thirteen American colonies as a group during the American Revolution, especially in formal names such as “Continental Congress” or “Continental Army.”
- Base: continental
- Base: continental
- Plural: continentals
Continental Army
1army of the American colonies
The main army of the thirteen American colonies that fought against Britain in the American Revolution.
- George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army.
- The Continental Army suffered from a lack of supplies.
- Many volunteers joined the Continental Army after the war began.
continental climate
1inland-type climate pattern
A kind of weather pattern in places far from the sea, with very hot or warm summers and very cold winters.
- The city has a continental climate with long, cold winters.
- Farmers in areas with a continental climate must prepare for frost in early spring.
- Scientists compared plant growth in maritime and continental climates.
Continental Congress
1assembly of American colonial delegates
A group of leaders from the thirteen American colonies who met and acted as a kind of government during the American Revolution.
- The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1774.
- The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.
- Delegates to the Continental Congress debated how to respond to British rule.
continental divide
1boundary separating river systems
A long high line of land on a continent where rivers on one side flow to one ocean and rivers on the other side flow to another ocean.
- They hiked along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains.
- The river flows west after crossing the continental divide.
- Geographers mapped the main continental divide of North America.
continental drift
1slow movement of continents
The very slow movement of the big land pieces of Earth (continents) over many millions of years.
- Scientists once laughed at the idea of continental drift.
- Continental drift explains why Africa and South America seem to fit together.
- The theory of plate tectonics expanded on the idea of continental drift.
continental Europe
1mainland Europe, not islands
The part of Europe that is one big piece of land, not the islands like Britain or Ireland.
- Rail passes make travel around continental Europe relatively easy.
- Many people from continental Europe work in London.
- The product is popular in continental Europe but not well known in the UK.
continental philosophy
1European-style philosophical traditions
A style of philosophy that mainly comes from mainland Europe and is often contrasted with analytic philosophy from the English-speaking world.
- She is writing her thesis on twentieth-century continental philosophy.
- The department offers separate courses in analytic and continental philosophy.
- Continental philosophy often focuses on history, society, and human experience.
continental shelf
1underwater edge of a continent
The wide, shallow part of the sea floor next to a continent, before the water becomes very deep.
- Most offshore oil drilling takes place on the continental shelf.
- The country claims fishing rights over its entire continental shelf.
- Rich marine life is often found along the continental shelf.
continental United States
1the 48 mainland U.S. states
The part of the United States that is one big land area, the 48 states between Canada and Mexico, not including Alaska or Hawaii.
- Shipping is free within the continental United States.
- They drove across the continental United States in a month.
- The storm affected much of the continental United States.
continental breakfast
1light European-style breakfast
A small breakfast with bread or pastries and a drink like coffee or tea, usually served in hotels, with no cooked food like eggs or bacon.
- The hotel offers a free continental breakfast for guests.
- The hotel offers a free continental breakfast every morning.
- A continental breakfast usually includes coffee and croissants.
- We only had time for a quick continental breakfast before the meeting.
- Coffee, juice, and croissants were included in the continental breakfast.