different between contiguous vs coterminous

English

Etymology

From Latin contiguus (“touching”), from contingere (“to touch”); see contingent, contact, contagion.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t??ju?s/
• Hyphenation: con?tig?u?ous

Adjective

contiguous (not comparable)

1. Connected; touching; abutting.
2. Adjacent; neighboring.
   • 1730–1774, Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland

     Though poor the peasant’s hut, his feasts though small,

     He sees his little lot the lot of all;

     Sees no contiguous palace rear its head

     To shame the meanness of his humble shed;
3. Connecting without a break.

   the forty-eight contiguous states

Derived terms

• contiguousness
• contiguous United States

Related terms

• contiguity

Translations

See also

• coterminous

References

• contiguous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• contiguous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Alternative forms

• conterminous

Etymology

Latin conterminus, from con- (“with”) + terminus (“border, end”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /k?n?t??.m?.n?s/, /k?n?t??.m?.n?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /k?n?t?.m?.n?s/

Adjective

coterminous (not comparable)

1. Meeting end to end or at the ends.
2. (geography) Having matching boundaries; or, adjoining and sharing a boundary.

   New York's borough of Brooklyn and Kings County are conterminous.

   To get a building warrant he had to show the plans to "conterminous proprietors", neighbours with whom his property shared a boundary.

3. Having the same scope, range of meaning, or extent in time.
4. (law) Said of linked or related property leases that expire together.

Translations

See also

• coextensive
• contiguous