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1 N‑COUNT A continent is a very large area of land, such as Africa or Asia, that consists of several countries. □  She loved the African continent. □  Dinosaurs evolved when most continents were joined in a single land mass.

2 N‑PROPER People sometimes use the Continent to refer to the continent of Europe except for Britain. [mainly BRIT ] □  Its shops are among the most stylish on the Continent.

con|ti|nen|tal /kɒ nt I ne nt ^ə l/ (continentals )

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Continental means situated on or belonging to the continent of Europe except for Britain. [mainly BRIT ] □  He sees no signs of improvement in the U.K. and continental economy.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A continental is someone who comes from the continent of Europe. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe someone or something as continental , you think that they are typical of the continent of Europe. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

4 ADJ [ADJ n] Continental is used to refer to something that belongs to or relates to a continent. □  The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.

5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] The continental United States consists of all the states which are situated on the continent of North America, as opposed to Hawaii and territories such as the Virgin Islands. [mainly AM ] □  Shipping is included on orders sent within the continental U.S.

6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Continental means existing or happening in the American colonies during the American Revolution. [AM ] □  …George Washington, Commander of the Continental Army.

7 N‑COUNT Continentals were soldiers who fought in the Continental Army against the British in the American Revolution. [AM ]

co n|ti|nen|tal brea k|fast (continental breakfasts ) N‑COUNT A continental breakfast is breakfast that consists of food such as bread, butter, jam, and a hot drink. There is no cooked food.

co n|ti|nen|tal dri ft N‑UNCOUNT Continental drift is the slow movement of the Earth's continents towards and away from each other.

co n|ti|nen|tal she lf N‑UNCOUNT The continental shelf is the area which forms the edge of a continent, ending in a steep slope to the depths of the ocean. □  …the deep water off the Continental Shelf.

con|tin|gen|cy /kənt I ndʒ ^ə nsi/ (contingencies )

1 N‑VAR A contingency is something that might happen in the future. [FORMAL ] □  I need to examine all possible contingencies.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] A contingency plan or measure is one that is intended to be used if a possible situation actually occurs. [FORMAL ] □  We have contingency plans.

con|tin|gent /kənt I ndʒ ^ə nt/ (contingents )

1 N‑COUNT A contingent of police, soldiers, or military vehicles is a group of them. [FORMAL ] □  There were contingents from the navies of virtually all E.U. countries.

2 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] A contingent is a group of people representing a country or organization at a meeting or other event. [FORMAL ] □  The strong British contingent suffered mixed fortunes.

3 ADJ If something is contingent on something else, the first thing depends on the second in order to happen or exist. [FORMAL ] □ [+ on/upon ] In effect, growth is contingent on improved incomes for the mass of the low-income population.

con|tin|ual /kənt I njuəl/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] A continual process or situation happens or exists without stopping. □  The school has been in continual use since 1883. □  Despite continual pain, he refused all drugs. ●  con|tinu|al|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  She cried almost continually and threw temper tantrums.