Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Contain \Con*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Contained}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Containing}.] [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir,
   fr. L. continere, -tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See
   {Tenable}, and cf. {Countenance}.]
   1. 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! --2 Chron.
                                                  vi. 18.

            When that this body did contain a spirit. --Shak.

            What thy stores contain bring forth.  --Milton.

   2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be
      equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.

   3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep
      within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]

            The king's person contains the unruly people from
            evil occasions.                       --Spenser.

            Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. --Shak.

Contain \Con*tain"\, v. i.
   To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.

         But if they can not contain, let them marry. --1 Cor.
                                                  vii. 9.

Source : WordNet®

contain
     v 1: 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" [syn: {incorporate}, {comprise}]
     2: contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The
        canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water"
        [syn: {hold}, {bear}, {carry}]
     3: 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"
        [syn: {control}, {hold in}, {hold}, {check}, {curb}, {moderate}]
     4: be divisible by; "24 contains 6"
     5: be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take
        all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon" [syn: {take},
         {hold}]
     6: 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" [syn: {check},
         {turn back}, {arrest}, {stop}, {hold back}]