contain

con|tain [ kən`teın ] verb transitive ***

1. ) a container, envelope, room, etc. that contains something has something inside it:

The envelope contained a few dried rose petals.

There were four or five boxes containing toys and books.

a ) an area, border, wall, etc. that contains something surrounds something inside:

Contained within the walls of the castle is the kitchen garden.

2. ) if a substance contains something, that thing is a part of it:

Brown rice contains a lot of vitamins and minerals.

a ) to include something or have it as a part:

The information you need is contained in this report.

3. ) to control or hide an emotion:

I couldn't contain my excitement any longer.

barely/hardly contain something: Laura barely contained her fury.

a ) contain yourself to not show your emotions:

She could hardly contain herself when she saw him arrive.

4. ) to prevent something harmful from spreading to other people or places:

Firefighters are still battling to contain the blaze.

Strong measures are urgently needed to contain the epidemic.

a ) to keep something within limits:

Our main task is to contain expenditure within a budget.