Comprise vs. Contain — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Comprise and Contain
ADVERTISEMENT
Compare with Definitions
Comprise
To be composed of or contain
The staff comprises eight physicians, two dozen nurses, and various administrative people.
Contain
Have or hold (someone or something) within
The cigarettes were thought to contain cannabis
Comprise
Usage Problem To compose; make up; constitute
The countries and territories that comprised the British Empire.
Contain
Control or restrain (oneself or a feeling)
He must contain his hatred
Comprise
(transitive) To be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts).
The whole comprises the parts.
The parts are comprised by the whole.
ADVERTISEMENT
Contain
To have within; hold
A bin that contains rice.
Comprise
To compose; to constitute.In the passive voice, the use of of with comprise (is/are comprised of) may be regarded as tautological because the same meaning can be expressed in the active (comprises) without of, or with composed of, which is both synonymous and non-tautological (since compose in this sense always requires of).
The whole is comprised of the parts.
The parts comprise the whole.
Contain
To be capable of holding
These barrels contain 50 gallons.
Comprise
To contain or embrace.
Our committee comprises a president, secretary, treasurer and five other members.
Contain
To have as a component or constituent part; include
Does the soup contain meat? The poem contains many famous lines.
Comprise
(patent law) To include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential to define an invention.
Contain
To hold or keep within limits; restrain
I could hardly contain my curiosity.
Comprise
To comprehend; to include.
Comprise much matter in few words.
Friendship does two souls in one comprise.
Contain
To halt the spread or development of; check
Science sought an effective method of containing the disease.
Comprise
Be composed of;
The land he conquered comprised several provinces
What does this dish consist of?
Contain
To check the expansion or influence of (a hostile power or ideology) by containment.
Comprise
Include or contain; have as a component;
A totally new idea is comprised in this paper
The record contains many old songs from the 1930's
Contain
(Mathematics) To be exactly divisible by.
Comprise
Form or compose;
This money is my only income
The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance
These constitute my entire belonging
The children made up the chorus
This sum represents my entire income for a year
These few men comprise his entire army
Contain
(transitive) To hold inside.
Contain
(transitive) To include as a part.
Contain
(transitive) To put constraints upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!
Contain
To have as an element or subset.
A group contains a unique inverse for each of its elements.
If that subgraph contains the vertex in question then it must be spanning.
Contain
To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
Contain
To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold.
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house!
When that this body did contain a spirit.
What thy stores contain bring forth.
Contain
To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.
Contain
To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves.
Contain
To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
But if they can not contain, let them marry.
Contain
Include or contain; have as a component;
A totally new idea is comprised in this paper
The record contains many old songs from the 1930's
Contain
Contain or hold; have within;
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
This can contains water
Contain
Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits;
Moderate your alcohol intake
Hold your tongue
Hold your temper
Control your anger
Contain
Be divisible by;
24 contains 6
Contain
Be capable of holding or containing;
This box won't take all the items
The flask holds one gallon
Contain
Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of;
Arrest the downward trend
Check the growth of communism in Sout East Asia
Contain the rebel movement
Turn back the tide of communism
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Petitioner vs. Plaintiff
Next Comparison
Consistently vs. Seamless
