container
kuhn-TAY-nuh
Container (noun) means an object, such as a box, jar, or bottle, used for holding or storing something. Example: “He keeps his pens in a small tin container on the desk.”
noun
1
An object, such as a box, jar, or bottle, used for holding or storing something.
"He keeps his pens in a small tin container on the desk."
"She poured the leftover soup into a plastic container."
"Each container was labelled with its contents and expiry date."
2
A large standardized metal box used for shipping goods by ship, rail, or truck.
"A crane lifted the heavy container onto the back of the lorry."
"The ship was loaded with containers full of furniture."
"The port can unload hundreds of containers a day."
3
(computing) A lightweight, self-contained package of software and its dependencies that runs in an isolated environment.
"Each service runs in its own container, so one failure cannot affect the others."
"I started a new container to test the program safely."
"The developers deployed the app inside a Docker container."
How to use container
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething built to hold other things inside it, whether it is a lunchbox, a shipping crate, or a piece of software.
Common pairings
storage container
shipping container
container ship
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Word forms
- Plural
- containers
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He keeps his pens in a small tin _____ on the desk.
Etymology
From Middle English conteyner — contain + the agent suffix -er.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for container
See all rhymes for container →Frequently asked questions
What does “container” mean?
The word “container” means an object, such as a box, jar, or bottle, used for holding or storing something. In plain terms, something built to hold other things inside it, whether it is a lunchbox, a shipping crate, or a piece of software.
How do you pronounce “container”?
“Container” is pronounced kuhn-TAY-nuh (/kənˈteɪ.nəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “container” in a sentence?
Here is “container” used in a sentence: “She poured the leftover soup into a plastic container.”
What is another word for “container”?
Words with a similar meaning to “container” include receptacle.
What part of speech is “container”?
“Container” is a noun.
Where does the word “container” come from?
The word “container” comes from Middle English. From Middle English conteyner — contain + the agent suffix -er.
Is “container” a common word?
“Container” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “container” have?
“Container” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an object, such as a box, jar, or bottle, used for holding or storing something.
What is the difference between a container and a receptacle?
Both mean an object that holds or stores something, but "container" is the everyday word for boxes, jars, and bottles, while "receptacle" is more formal and often names something items are put into, such as a litter receptacle. In North American technical usage, "receptacle" can also mean an electrical outlet, a sense "container" never has.
What is a container in shipping?
A shipping container is a large standardized metal box used to transport goods by ship, rail, or truck. Because the sizes are standardized, the same sealed container can move between different transport modes without its contents being repacked, which is the basis of modern intermodal freight.
What is a container in computing?
In computing, a container is a lightweight, self-contained package of software together with everything it needs to run — code, libraries, and settings — executing in an isolated environment. Containers, popularized by tools such as Docker, let the same application run consistently on different machines.
What is the difference between a container and a virtual machine?
Both isolate software, but a virtual machine emulates an entire computer with its own operating system, while a container shares the host machine's operating-system kernel and packages only the application and its dependencies. Containers are therefore much smaller and faster to start, whereas virtual machines provide stronger, fuller isolation.
