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1. Dictionary

   con·tract

   noun

   • 1. a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law: "both parties must sign employment contracts"
   • ▪ the branch of law concerned with the making and observation of contracts: "the law of contract"
   • ▪ an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin: "smuggling bosses routinely put out contracts on witnesses"
   • ▪ the declarer's undertaking to win the number of tricks bid with a stated suit as trump: "South can make the contract with correct play"
   • ▪ a formal agreement to marry: "the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed"

   verb

   • 1. decrease in size, number, or range: "glass contracts as it cools" Similar shrinkget smallerbecome smallerdecreasediminishreducedwindledeclineshrivelOpposite expandincrease
   • ▪ (of a muscle) become shorter and tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body: "the heart is a muscle that contracts about seventy times a minute" Similar tightenbecome/make tightertenseflexconstrictdraw inbecome/make narrowernarrowwrinkleknitcreasecorrugatepursepuckerOpposite relax
   • ▪ shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision: "“quasistellar object” was soon contracted to “quasar.”" Similar shortenabbreviatecutreduceabridgetruncateOpposite expandlengthen
   • 2. enter into a formal and legally binding agreement: "the local authority will contract with a wide range of agencies to provide services" Similar undertakepledgepromisecovenantcommit oneselfengageagreeenter into an agreementreach an agreementmake a dealnegotiate a deal
   • ▪ secure specified rights or undertake specified obligations in a formal and legally binding agreement: "a buyer may contract for the right to withhold payment" Similar undertakepledgepromisecovenantcommit oneselfengageagreeenter into an agreementreach an agreementmake a dealnegotiate a deal
   • ▪ impose an obligation on (someone) to do something by means of a formal agreement: "health authorities contract a hospital to treat a specific number of patients"
   • ▪ arrange for work to be done by another organization: "local authorities will have to contract out waste management"
   • ▪ formally enter into (a marriage): "before Fanny met him, he had contracted a disastrous liaison and marriage"
   • ▪ enter into (a friendship or other relationship): "the patterns of social relationships contracted by men and women differ"
   • 3. catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent): "three people contracted a killer virus" Similar developcatchgetpick upcome down withbecome infected withfall ill withbe taken ill withbe struck down withbe stricken withsuccumb togo down withinformal:take ill withtake sick with
   • 4. become liable to pay (a debt): "he contracted a debt of $3,300" Similar incurbecome liable to payacquirefall intorun up

   Word Origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractus, from contract- ‘drawn together, tightened’, from the verb contrahere, from con- ‘together’ + trahere ‘draw’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. contractee noun
   • 2. contractive adjective

   Scrabble Points: 12

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › contractContract Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › contract

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word contract as a noun, verb, and adjective. Find synonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases for contract.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishCONTRACT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of contract as a noun and a verb in English, with synonyms, antonyms, and related words. Find out how to use contract in different contexts, such as law, business, finance, and health.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › contractCONTRACT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › contract

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   noun. an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified. an agreement enforceable by law. the written form of an agreement enforceable by law. the division of law dealing with contracts.

5. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › ContractContract - Wikipedia

   en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Contract

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   A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to transfer any of those at a future date.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › contractContract - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › contract

   When you and someone else have agreed on something and that agreement is both binding and enforceable by law, you have a contract. When you rent an apartment, you and your future landlord sign a rental contract. You can also use the word in this sense as a verb meaning "to hire."

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › contractContract - definition of contract by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › contract

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   A contract is a formal agreement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law. Learn the different types, uses, and meanings of contract in law, bridge, slang, and grammar.

8. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › contractcontract | meaning of contract in Longman Dictionary of...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › contract

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   Learn the meaning of contract as a noun and a verb, with different types and uses in business, law, and everyday life. See examples of contract in sentences and phrases from the corpus.