Wordnet 3.0
ADJECTIVE (1)
1.
gotten under control;
- Example: "the oil spill is contained"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Contain \Con*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contained; p. pr. &
vb. n. Containing.] [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir,
fr. L. continere, -tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See
Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]
1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to
inclose; to hold.
[1913 Webster]
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not
contain thee; how much less this house! --2 Chron.
vi. 18.
[1913 Webster]
When that this body did contain a spirit. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
What thy stores contain bring forth. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be
equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.
[1913 Webster]
3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep
within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]
[1913 Webster]
The king's person contains the unruly people from
evil occasions. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
contained
adj 1: gotten under control; "the oil spill is contained"