Also means
restraint
Usage Note
Contención is used in technical, political, and emotional contexts: a muro de contención is a retaining wall, contención del gasto is spending restraint, and contención emocional refers to emotional self-control. It is a formal register word; in everyday speech control or freno would be more natural.
Examples
"El muro de contención evitó la inundación."
Natural Translation
The retaining wall prevented the flood.

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