continental

Everyday

1. Continental means to do with a continent, one of the world's large land masses: «continental shelf», «continental climate». tree →
2. (UK, Ireland) Continental means from mainland Europe, as opposed to Britain and Ireland: «continental breakfast», «a continental holiday». tree →
3. (US) Continental can mean to do with the main part of North America, as in «the continental United States» (all states except Alaska and Hawaii). tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons, pupils learn the seven continents and about continental plates that move slowly and cause earthquakes; a «continental climate» has hot summers and cold winters far from the sea. In everyday life, a hotel «continental breakfast» is bread, croissants, jam, cheese and coffee instead of a cooked breakfast. Phrases: «continental breakfast», «continental drift», «continental shelf», «continental Europe».

Examples

• We had a continental breakfast of croissants and jam. tree →
• Continental drift means the continents move very slowly. tree →
• The continental shelf is the shallow sea floor near the coast. tree →
• Moscow has a continental climate with cold winters. tree →
• The continental United States does not include Hawaii. tree →
• Many British families take holidays on the Continent. tree →
• It is the same with the Grimms' Aschenputtel and other Continental variants. tree →

Note

Adjective; no comparative. «The Continent» (capital C) in British English means mainland Europe. The seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (Oceania), Europe, North America, South America.