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1 N‑VAR Continuity is the fact that something continues to happen or exist, with no great changes or interruptions. □  An historical awareness also imparts a sense of continuity. □ [+ of ] …a tank designed to ensure continuity of fuel supply during aerobatics.

2 N‑UNCOUNT In film making, continuity is the way that things filmed at different times are made to look as if they were filmed at the same time or in the right sequence. [TECHNICAL ] □  Walt and I referred to the original footage to check continuity and lighting.

con|ti|nu |ity an|nounc|er (continuity announcers ) N‑COUNT A continuity announcer is someone who introduces the next programme on a radio or television station.

con|tinu|ous /kənt I njuəs/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A continuous process or event continues for a period of time without stopping. □  Residents report that they heard continuous gunfire. □  …all employees who had a record of five years' continuous employment with the firm. ●  con|tinu|ous|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  The civil war has raged almost continuously for ten years. □  It is the oldest continuously-inhabited city in America.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A continuous line or surface has no gaps or holes in it. □  …a continuous line of boats.

3 ADJ In English grammar, continuous verb groups are formed using the auxiliary 'be' and the present participle of a verb, as in 'I'm feeling a bit tired' and 'She had been watching them for some time'. Continuous verb groups are used especially when you are focusing on a particular moment. Compare simple .

con|ti nu|ous as|se ss|ment N‑UNCOUNT If pupils or students undergo continuous assessment , they get qualifications partly or entirely based on the work they do during the year, rather than on exam results. [BRIT ]

con|tin|uum /kənt I njuəm/ (continua /kənt I njuə/ or continuums ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A continuum is a set of things on a scale, which have a particular characteristic to different degrees. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] These various complaints are part of a continuum of ill-health.

con|tort /kəntɔː ^r t/ (contorts , contorting , contorted ) VERB If someone's face or body contorts or is contorted , it moves into an unnatural and unattractive shape or position. □ [V ] His face contorts as he screams out the lyrics. □ [V n] The gentlest of her caresses would contort his already tense body. □ [V -ed] Brenner was breathing hard, his face contorted with pain.

con|tor|tion /kəntɔː ^r ʃ ^ə n/ (contortions ) N‑COUNT Contortions are movements of your body or face into unusual shapes or positions. □ [+ of ] I had to admire the contortions of the gymnasts.

con|tor|tion|ist /kəntɔː ^r ʃən I st/ (contortionists ) N‑COUNT A contortionist is someone who twists their body into strange and unnatural shapes and positions in order to entertain other people, for example in a circus.

con|tour /kɒ ntʊə ^r / (contours )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] You can refer to the general shape or outline of an object as its contours . [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] …the texture and colour of the skin, the contours of the body.

2 N‑COUNT A contour on a map is a line joining points of equal height and indicating hills, valleys, and the steepness of slopes. □  …a contour map showing two hills and this large mountain in the middle.

con|toured /kɒ ntʊə ^r d/ ADJ [ADJ n] A contoured surface has curves and slopes on it, rather than being flat. □  …the lush fairways and contoured greens of the course. □  Sophia settled into her comfortably-contoured seat.