{
    "term": "continuous",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "happening or existing for a period of time without being interrupted",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Recovery after the accident will be a continuous process that may take several months."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The organization aims to create a culture of **continuous improvement **."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a continuous stream of data"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a continuous flow of knowledge, information and understanding"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rain has been almost continuous for weeks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was in continuous employment until the age of sixty-five."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do the exercise in one continuous flowing motion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Experiments were conducted in the continuous daylight of the Arctic summer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He watched television as if it was one continuous programme."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could hear a faint continuous noise."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was a week of almost continuous sunshine."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was the longest period of continuous growth in the company's history."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Progress in learning a language is continuous but uneven."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She retired after 25 years' continuous service with the company."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The woollen mill has been in continuous production since the 18th century."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These policies are vital for continuous improvement in economic performance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You need to have been in continuous employment for at least two years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rain has been continuous since this morning."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Time"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "spreading in a line or over an area without any spaces",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a continuous flow of traffic"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a continuous stream of lava from the volcano"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the largest continuous tropical forest in Central America"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Rain was falling outside in a continuous silver curtain."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "repeated many times",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "For four days the town suffered continuous attacks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company said the reasons for closure were poor margins and continuous losses."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The soldiers suffered continuous attacks for four days."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Time"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "connected with the form of a verb (for example I am waiting or It is raining) that is made from a part of be and the present participle. Progressive forms are used to express an action that continues for a period of time.",
            "labels": "(grammar)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the continuous tenses"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Language"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kənˈtɪnjuəs/",
                "audio": "xc/continuous/xcontinuous__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kənˈtɪnjuəs/",
                "audio": "xc/continuous/xcontinuous__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "mid 17th cent.: from Latin continuus ‘uninterrupted’, from continere ‘hang together’ (from con- ‘together with’ + tenere ‘hold’) + -ous."
}