content

1 noun

1 contents (plural)

a) the things that are inside a box, bag, room etc: The box had fallen over, and some of the contents had spilled out. | The customs official rummaged through the contents of the briefcase.

b) the things that are written in a letter, book etc: If the contents of this letter become known to the Foreign Secretary, there would be grave consequences. | table of contents (=a list at the beginning of a book, which shows the different parts into which the book is divided) | contents page (=the page in a book on which the table of contents appears)

2 (singular) the amount of a substance that is contained in something: the fat content of cheese

3 (singular) the ideas, facts, or opinions that are contained in a speech or a piece of writing: They said they liked the content of your article, but the style wasn't quite right for the magazine.

2 adjective (not before noun)

1 happy and satisfied: Tarka lay drowsy and content in the sun. | content to do sth: John is quite content to watch television for hours at a stretch.

(+ with): She is content with her job at the moment.

2 not content with if someone is not content with doing something, they do not think that it is good enough, and so want to do more: Not content with sentencing him to ten years in prison, the judge ordered that he leave the country on his release.

3 noun (U)

1 literary a feeling of quiet happiness and satisfaction

2 do sth to your heart's content to do something as much as you want: We sang away to our hearts' content.

4 verb (T)

1 content yourself with sth to do or have something that is not what you really wanted, but is still satisfactory: This is all I have, so you'll have to content yourself with $5 for the moment.

2 to make someone feel happy and satisfied: I was no longer satisfied with the life that had hitherto contented me.