Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Constituting a complete and independent unit in and of itself.
- adjective Not dependent on others; self-sufficient.
- adjective Keeping to oneself; reserved.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Contained or wrapped up in one's self; reserved; not sympathetic or communicative.
- Having an entrance for itself, and not approached by an entrance or stair common to others: as, a self-contained house.
- Complete in itself: as, a self-contained motor.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Having self-control; reserved; uncommunicative; wholly engrossed in one's self.
- adjective (Mach.) Having all the essential working parts connected by a bedplate or framework, or contained in a case, etc., so that mutual relations of the parts do not depend upon fastening outside of the machine itself.
- adjective A steam engine and boiler combined and fastened together; a portable steam engine.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Not requiring external or additional
support ; complete in itself.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective constituting a complete and independent unit in and of itself
- adjective in full control of your faculties
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus is acceptable in all references.
Essential Guide to Business Style and Usage PAUL R. MARTIN 2002
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The acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus is acceptable in all references.
Essential Guide to Business Style and Usage PAUL R. MARTIN 2002
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—that is to say, a self-contained but slightly smug little kid called Wolfie—plays second fiddle to his older sister in René Féret's beguiling celebration, in French with English subtitles, of the family's other prodigy.
'One Day': A Stutter-Stop Affair to Forget Joe Morgenstern 2011
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The state also cited Cobalt's miners for failing to wear their air packs, called self-contained self-rescuers, and for failing to have a cache of the devices within reach.
TV series 'Coal' brings citations, new business to Cobalt 2011
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On his own, Emeralds member Mark McGuire's looped guitar work can be incredibly self-contained, which is why this collaboration with Trouble Books, the husband and wife duo of Keith Freund and Linda Lejsovka, is surprisingly, well, collaborative.
News 2011
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Few people who use the word readily register the fact that its letters initially stood for words: self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
The English Is Coming! Leslie Dunton-Downer 2010
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Few people who use the word readily register the fact that its letters initially stood for words: self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
The English Is Coming! Leslie Dunton-Downer 2010
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He made the lower level into a self-contained guest unit with two bedrooms and a kitchen.
A Lodge in 'The Park' Sarah Tilton 2011
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And that language is no longer fully understood in a time when decision-making is monopolized by administrators overseeing self-contained bureaucracies.
Feisal G. Mohamed: Inside The U Of I Law School's Book-Cooking Scandal Feisal G. Mohamed 2011
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And that language is no longer fully understood in a time when decision-making is monopolized by administrators overseeing self-contained bureaucracies.
Feisal G. Mohamed: Inside The U Of I Law School's Book-Cooking Scandal Feisal G. Mohamed 2011
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