noun
container
kuhn-TAY-nuh
noun
1
An object, such as a box, jar, or bottle, used for holding or storing something.
"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.
"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.
"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
Word Forms
containers plural
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She poured the leftover soup into a plastic _____.
Etymology
From Middle English conteyner — contain + the agent suffix -er.