container - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
container Word Meanings
- a receptacle for holding items
- something that stores or transports goods
- a storage unit or box
container Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
container Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/kənˈteɪnə/
US
/kənˈteɪnər/
container Word Etymology
con- = together + tain = hold; Latin 'con-' meaning 'with, together' combined with 'tenere' meaning 'to hold'. Imagine a box that can hold various things together, symbolizing unity and storage.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
On the kitchen shelf, I reach for a container and cradle it in my hands. I move the lid, feel the hinge give a soft click, then push the first item inside and shift the rest to fit. I adjust the stack, hold the edge steady, and decide what goes where. When I place the lid back and set it down, a sense of order settles in as the container keeps things ready to grab.
Real Context
A container is a simple receptacle for holding items, from a kitchen box to a shipping crate. In everyday English, container emphasizes function: it contains, protects, and transports items. We often describe a reusable plastic container for leftovers, a storage bin, or a shipping container at the port. The word also appears in phrases like shipping container or container ship. Note that container can refer to small personal boxes as well as large industrial crates. In computing, container has a different sense in Docker and similar technologies.
Usage Reminders
- Use container for a general object that holds items.
- Add a material or size when helpful (plastic container, metal box).
- For shipping, use shipping container or container ship.
- In computing contexts, container means a lightweight isolated environment (e. g., Docker container).
- Avoid using container to describe a person.
Common Misconceptions
- Container is only a large ship cargo box
- Container and box are exactly the same
- Container refers only to plastic containers
- Container equals a person or living thing
- Container only appears in IT contexts
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Practice using container in multiple sizes and materials
- Compare with synonyms like box and bin
- Learn its shipping and IT phrases separately
- Notice collocations: plastic container, storage container
- Review sentences where container is not a person or animal
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'container'?
A.A storage unit
B.A person
C.A tool
D.A vehicle
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'container' used in a sentence?
A.They cook with a container
B.He drives a container
C.She is container
D.I store my books in a container
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'container'?
A.Space
B.Liquid
C.Box
D.Food
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'container'?
A.Empty
B.Heavy
C.Small
D.Full
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you most likely encounter a container?
A.At a shipping port
B.At a library
C.In a garden
D.In a zoo
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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