Contain, hold, accommodate denote to have or be capable of having within.
To contain is to have within or to have as an element, fraction, or part; to hold is to have the capacity to contain or to retain; thus, a bookcase that holds (is capable of containing) one hundred volumes may contain (actually have in it) only fifty; a bushel contains (not holds) four pecks but a bushel basket holds (not contains) four pecks of potatoes.
But the distinction between hold and contain is often inconsiderable or disregarded.
To accommodate (see also OBLIGE 2) is to hold without crowding and inconvenience.