contain and hold share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. contain means “include or contain; have as a component”. hold means “cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'”. hold is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/kənˈteɪn/
1.v.include or contain; have as a component
“A totally new idea is comprised in this paper”
2.v.contain or hold; have within
“The jar carries wine”
3.v.lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
“moderate your alcohol intake”
/ˈhoʊld/
1.v.cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'
“hold in place”
2.v.have or hold in one's hands or grip
“Hold this bowl for a moment, please”
3.v.organize or be responsible for
“hold a reception”
| contain | hold | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /kənˈteɪn/ | /ˈhoʊld/ |
| Said | kuhn-TAYN | hohld |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 7 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | verb | verb, noun |
| Senses | 6 | 45 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | incorporate, comprise | keep, maintain |
Full entry for contain · Full entry for hold · More comparisons