to hold or include within its volume or area

This glass contains water. This paddock contains our best horses.

to be capable of holding; have capacity for

The room will contain 75 persons safely.

to have as contents or constituent parts; comprise; include.

to keep under proper control; restrain

He could not contain his amusement.

to prevent or limit the expansion, influence, success, or advance of (a hostile nation, competitor, opposing force, natural disaster, etc.)

to contain an epidemic.

to succeed in preventing the spread of

efforts to contain water pollution.

Mathematics . (of a number) to be a multiple of; be divisible by, without a remainder

Ten contains five.

to be equal to

A quart contains two pints.

verb

exclude

verb

accommodate , be composed of , comprehend , comprise , consist of , embody , embrace , enclose , encompass , have , have capacity for , hold , incorporate , involve , seat , subsume , take in , bottle up * , check , collect , compose , cool * , cork * , curb , harness , hog-tie , hold in , keep back , keep lid on , put half nelson on , rein , repress , restrain , restrict , simmer down , smother , stifle , stop , include , control , cool , bound , house , keep , retain