Continental Europe
1
3.4
- proper noun
:
Europa continental
- As a recruitment system, for almost two centuries, the draft in Belgium and the Netherlands was as crucial as elsewhere in continental Europe.
Examples
-
His outlets were in continental Europe and North America.
Academic text (1990) -
Many tourists prefer to explore the rich history and culture of continental Europe during their vacations.
-
Within two years, he and Mussolini controlled continental Europe.
-
Anyone who has spent any time in continental Europe or Asia knows that this is not in any way an exaggeration.
Blog text (6) -
We shall venture to continental Europe when the opportunity arises.
-
From this perspective, it is only a matter of time until most of continental Europe abolishes conscription.
Academic text (1997) -
But continental Europe remains vulnerable to future shocks, especially a cross-border bank failure.
Academic text (2008) -
Americans and Brits face a harder time in Continental Europe than Euros face in the US or Britain.
Blog text (6) -
Almost everywhere in continental Europe during the first half of the 1990s, the debate about the end of the draft was reopened, and some countries have now reached their conclusions.
Academic text (1997) -
In continental Europe, Union des Banques Suisses (UBS) wrote down US$43 billion.
Academic text (2008)
Synonyms
48
6.0
Mainland Europe that does not include Britain or Ireland
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable by combining 'continental' (relating to the continent or mainland) with 'Europe' — a B1 learner who knows both words will naturally infer 'mainland Europe' as opposed to its islands. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common, so the phrase is immediately comprehensible from its parts.
Etymology
Continental Europe comes from the idea of the large land called the continent of Europe, so it means 'the mainland of Europe', the countries on the main land rather than the islands.