include or contain; have as a component
"A totally new idea is comprised in this paper"
"The record contains many old songs from the 1930's"
To hold inside.
"The old wooden chest was heavy because it contained all my grandfather's favorite tools and photographs."
In plain English: To contain something means to keep it inside so it does not spill out or escape.
"The box contains some old photographs from my childhood."
Usage: Use "contain" to describe an object or space that holds something within its boundaries, such as a box containing toys or a room containing furniture. Ensure the subject is the container itself, not the item being held, which would be incorrect in this context.
The word "contain" entered English via the Old French contenir, which came from the Latin verb meaning "to hold or keep together." This original sense of holding things within boundaries is exactly how the term is used today.