CONTIGUOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contiguous mean? 

• CONTIGUOUS (adjective)
  The adjective CONTIGUOUS has 3 senses:

1. very close or connected in space or time

2. connecting without a break; within a common boundary

3. having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching

  Familiarity information: CONTIGUOUS used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTIGUOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Very close or connected in space or time

Synonyms:

contiguous; immediate

Context example:

the immediate past

Similar:

close (at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other)

Derivation:

contiguity; contiguousness (the attribute of being so near as to be touching)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Connecting without a break; within a common boundary

Synonyms:

conterminous; contiguous

Context example:

the contiguous 48 states

Similar:

connected (joined or linked together)

Derivation:

contiguity (the attribute of being so near as to be touching)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching

Synonyms:

adjacent; conterminous; contiguous; neighboring

Context example:

neighboring cities

Similar:

connected (joined or linked together)

Derivation:

contiguity; contiguousness (the attribute of being so near as to be touching)

 Context examples 

A state of separation; the act of isolating something; setting something apart from others; marked by separation of or from usually contiguous elements.

(Isolation, NCI Thesaurus)

The inferior portion of the urinary bladder which is formed as the walls of the bladder converge and become contiguous with the proximal urethra.

(Bladder Neck, NCI Thesaurus)

This process involves sequence recognition, cleavage, excision and ligation by recombinases to create a contiguous protein-coding gene.

(Immunoglobulin Gene Rearrangement, NCI Thesaurus)

NOTE(S): Multiple contiguous sites within the same organ system may be referenced.

(Defined Procedure Target Anatomic Site Code, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

The month of December was near the long-term average for the month with an average temperature across the contiguous U.S. of 32.9 degrees F, 0.17 degrees above average.

(2016 was 2nd warmest year on record for U.S., NOAA)

The area between the inner and outer nuclear membranes that is contiguous with the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

(Perinuclear Cisternal Space, NCI Thesaurus)

Antarctica's ice sheet spans close to twice the area of the contiguous United States.

(Antarctic ice cliffs may not contribute to ice-sheet instability as much as predicted, National Science Foundation)

The Sahara is the world's largest warm-weather desert, roughly equal in size to the contiguous United States.

(New study finds world’s largest desert, the Sahara, has grown by 10 percent since 1920, National Science Foundation)

The last time a total eclipse happened over the contiguous U.S. was in 1979.

(Perseid Meteor Shower Provides Opening Act for Solar Eclipse, VOA News)

It is generally thought to be an adenocarcinoma of the epidermis, from which it extends into the contiguous epithelium of hair follicles and sweat ducts.

(Extramammary Paget Disease, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)