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What is the difference between contain and content?

"Contain" and "content" are related but have distinct meanings:

Contain

* Verb: To hold or enclose something within itself.

* *The box contains a toy.*

* *The bottle contains water.*

Content

* Noun: The things that are held within something.

* *The content of the box is a toy.*

* *The content of the bottle is water.*

In short:

* Contain describes the action of holding or enclosing something.

* Content describes the things that are held or enclosed.

Example:

* "The box contains a toy." (The box is holding the toy)

* "The content of the box is a toy." (The toy is what's inside the box)

Other nuances:

* Content can also be used to describe the meaning or subject matter of something, like a book, a movie, or a speech.

* Contain can also be used in a figurative sense to mean "to include" or "to encompass." For example, "The lecture contained a lot of useful information."

Remember:

* "Contain" is an action word.

* "Content" is a noun referring to the things or information held within.

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