Contiguous

/kənˈtɪɡ.ju.əs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
Sharing a common boundary; touching.
The two countries have contiguous borders, making trade easier.
Adjacent or near in space, time, or order.
The contiguous days of the festival saw thousands of visitors.
In geometry, areas that are connected without any gaps.
The map showed contiguous regions of similar climates.

Etymology

Latin 'contiguus', from 'contingere' meaning 'to touch or border upon'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

contiguous United States
Referring to the 48 adjoining states that are not separated by water or territorial boundaries.
contiguous memory
In computing, refers to memory that is allocated in a single block.

Related Words

contact
The state of physical touching.
adjacency
The state of being next to or adjoining something else.
proximity
The state of being near in space or time.

Slang Meanings

In tech contexts, refers to how data is organized.
The contiguous data was read much faster than fragmented data.
To describe close-knit groups or communities.
The contiguous group on the platform always shares resources.