continuous
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continuous
uninterrupted in time: continuous ticking of a clock. [These words are often used without any distinction in meaning, as are continually and continuously. To make a clear distinction, use the contrasting terms intermittent and uninterrupted.]
Not to be confused with:
continual – intermittent; often repeated: continual chiming of a clock
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
con·tin·u·ous
(kən-tĭn′yo͞o-əs)adj.
1. Uninterrupted in time, sequence, substance, or extent. See Synonyms at continual.
2. Attached together in repeated units: a continuous form fed into a printer.
3. Mathematics
a. Of or relating to a line or curve that extends without a break or irregularity.
b. Of or relating to a function between two topological spaces such that the preimage of any open set in the range is an open set in the domain.
[From Latin continuus; see continue.]
con·tin′u·ous·ly adv.
con·tin′u·ous·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
continuous
(kənˈtɪnjʊəs)adj
1. prolonged without interruption; unceasing: a continuous noise.
2. in an unbroken series or pattern
3. (Mathematics) maths (of a function or curve) changing gradually in value as the variable changes in value. A function f is continuous if at every value a of the independent variable the difference between f(x) and f(a) approaches zero as x approaches a. Compare discontinuous2 See also limit5
4. (Statistics) statistics (of a variable) having a continuum of possible values so that its distribution requires integration rather than summation to determine its cumulative probability. Compare discrete3
5. (Grammar) grammar another word for progressive8
[C17: from Latin continuus, from continēre to hold together, contain]
conˈtinuously adv
conˈtinuousness n
Usage: Both continual and continuous can be used to say that something continues without interruption, but only continual can correctly be used to say that something keeps happening repeatedly
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
con•tin•u•ous
(kənˈtɪn yu əs)adj.
1. uninterrupted in time; without cessation: continuous noise during the movie.
2. being in immediate connection or spatial relationship: a continuous row of warehouses.
[1635–45; < Latin continuus uninterrupted =contin(ēre) to hold together, retain (see contain) + -uus]
con•tin′u•ous•ly, adv.
con•tin′u•ous•ness, n.
usage: See continual.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
constant
– continual – continuousYou can use constant, continual, and continuous to describe things that happen or exist without stopping.
1. 'constant'
You describe something as constant when it happens all the time or never goes away.
He was in constant pain.
I'm getting tired of Eva's constant criticism.
2. 'continual' and 'continuous'
Continual is usually used to describe something that happens often over a period of time. If something is continuous, it happens all the time without stopping, or seems to do so. For example, if you say 'There was continual rain', you mean that it rained often. If you say 'There was continuous rain', you mean that it did not stop raining.
Continual can only be used in front of a noun. Don't use it after a verb. Continuous can be used either in front of a noun or after a linking verb.
There have been continual demands to cut costs.
He still smoked despite the continual warnings of his nurse.
There was a continuous background noise.
Breathing should be slow and continuous.
If you are describing something undesirable which continues to happen or exist without stopping, it is better to use continual rather than continuous.
Life is a continual struggle.
She was in continual pain.
3. 'continual' or 'continuous'
If you are describing something undesirable which continues to happen or exist without stopping, it is better to use continual rather than continuous.
Life is a continual struggle.
It was sad to see her the victim of continual pain.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Adj. | 1. |  continuous - continuing in time or space without interruption; "a continuous rearrangement of electrons in the solar atoms results in the emission of light"- James Jeans; "a continuous bout of illness lasting six months"; "lived in continuous fear"; "a continuous row of warehouses"; "a continuous line has no gaps or breaks in it"; "moving midweek holidays to the nearest Monday or Friday allows uninterrupted work weeks"unbroken - marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence; "cars in an unbroken procession"; "the unbroken quiet of the afternoon" noncontinuous, discontinuous - not continuing without interruption in time or space; "discontinuous applause"; "the landscape was a discontinuous mosaic of fields and forest areas"; "he received a somewhat haphazard and discontinuous schooling" |
| 2. | continuous - of a function or curve; extending without break or irregularity math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement discontinuous - of a function or curve; possessing one or more discontinuities |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
continuous
adjective constant, continued, extended, prolonged, unbroken, uninterrupted, unceasing Residents reported that they heard continuous gunfire.
broken, periodic, passing, occasional, interrupted, intermittent, spasmodic, inconstant
broken, periodic, passing, occasional, interrupted, intermittent, spasmodic, inconstant
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
continuous
adjectiveExisting or occurring without interruption or end:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُتَتابِع، مُتَواصِل، مُسْتَمِرمُسْتَمِرّ
nepřetržitýplynulýspojitý
fortsatstadiguafbrudtvedvarende
pidev
jatkuva
trajan
folyamatosfolytonos
samfelldur
連続的な
연속적인
nedovršennenehennepretrgan
oavbruten
ซึ่งต่อเนื่องกัน
liên tục
continuous
[kənˈtɪnjʊəs]A. ADJ → continuo
B. CPD continuous assessment N → evaluación f continua
continuous (feed) paper N → papel m continuo
continuous inventory N → inventario m continuo
continuous performance N (in cinema) → sesión f continua
continuous stationery N → papel m continuo
continuous (feed) paper N → papel m continuo
continuous inventory N → inventario m continuo
continuous performance N (in cinema) → sesión f continua
continuous stationery N → papel m continuo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
continuous
[kənˈtɪnjʊəs] adj [process, event] → continu(e) continuous assessment, continuous performance
[line, surface] → ininterrompu(e)continuous assessment n (British) → contrôle m continu
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
continuous
adj → dauernd, ständig, kontinuierlich (geh); line → durchgezogen, ununterbrochen; rise, movement etc → stetig, stet attr (geh), → gleichmäßig; (Math) function → stetig; to be in continuous use → ständig in Benutzung sein; a continuous stream of people → ein ununterbrochener Andrang von Menschen; a continuous stream of phone calls → eine ununterbrochene Flut von Anrufen; continuous assessment → Beurteilung f → der Leistungen während des ganzen Jahres; continuous paper (Comput) → Endlospapier nt; (pre-printed) → Endlosformular nt; continuous performance (Film) → durchgehende Vorstellung; continuous tense (Gram) → Verlaufsform f; present/past continuous (Gram) → erweitertes Präsens/Präteritum; continuous text → Fließtext m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
continuous
[kənˈtɪnjʊəs] adj → continuo/a, ininterrotto/acontinuous performance (Cine) → spettacolo continuato
continuous stationery (Comput) → (carta a) moduli mpl continui
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
continue
(kənˈtinjuː) verb1. to go on being, doing etc; to last or keep on. She continued to run; They continued running; He will continue in his present job; The noise continued for several hours; The road continues for 150 kilometres.
2. to go on (with) often after a break or pause. He continued his talk after the interval; This story is continued on p.53.
conˈtinual adjective very frequent; repeated many times. continual interruptions.
conˈtinually adverbconˌtinuˈation noun
1. the act of continuing, often after a break or pause. the continuation of his studies.
2. something which carries on, especially a further part of a story etc. This is a continuation of what he said last week.
ˌcontiˈnuity (kon-) noun1. the state of being continuous or logically related. It is important to children to have some continuity in their education.
2. the detailed arrangement of the parts of a story etc for a film script etc.
adjectivea continuity girl.
conˈtinuous adjective joined together, or going on, without interruption. a continuous series; continuous rain; continuous movement.
conˈtinuously adverbIt rained continuously all day.
continual means frequent, again and again.
continuous means non-stop, without interruption.
continuous means non-stop, without interruption.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
continuous
→ مُسْتَمِرّ nepřetržitý fortsat andauernd αδιάκοπος ininterrumpido jatkuva continu trajan continuo 連続的な 연속적인 ononderbroken sammenhengende ciągły contínuo продолжительный oavbruten ซึ่งต่อเนื่องกัน kesintisiz liên tục 连续的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
continuous
a. continuo-a, seguido-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
continuous
adj continuoEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.