continental

Connected with the countries, people, or customs of mainland Europe.

• The hotel serves a continental breakfast.
• She enjoys continental cooking.
• The café has a relaxed continental style.

Similar words: European

Common phrases: continental breakfast, continental cuisine, continental style

Connected with one of the world’s large areas of land.

• Continental drift changes the position of land.
• These rocks belong to the continental crust.
• The region has a continental climate with cold winters.

Common phrases: continental drift, continental crust, continental shelf, continental climate

On or connected with the main area of land rather than nearby islands.

• They traveled across continental Europe.
• The islands lie close to the continental coast.
• Ferries connect the island with continental ports.

Similar words: mainland

Opposites: insular

Common phrases: continental Europe, continental territory, continental mainland

A person from a mainland, especially mainland Europe.

• A continental joined us for dinner.
• The islanders welcomed the visiting continentals.
• He was a continental who had settled in London.

Similar words: mainlander

Common phrases: meet a continental, wealthy continental, young continental