The Continuum
The continuum is a range, series, or spectrum that gradually changes. It has no clearly distinct parts, but distinctly defined extremes. The word is also used to describe certain systems of stratification, including caste and class. The two systems differ in the ease of social mobility between achieved and ascribed statuses and the relative severity of crimes committed by members of lower and higher statuses.
The four basic parenting styles fall on a continuum from strict discipline to child centered approaches. The speed of a runner varies along the continuum from slow-twitch to fast-twitch.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'continuum.' They may not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
*The results from the Continuum Survey are based on data collected between April 21, 2004 and July 31, 2006. The results are a part of the research project of the National Institute for Literacy. The study was conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Center for Advanced Research in Reading at Indiana University Bloomington. The survey included both classroom and home schooled students. The surveys were distributed nationally. The participants were between the ages of 7 and 12. The sample size was 1,300.the continuum