Meaning of contract in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈkɑntrækt/

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  1. Verb

    contract

    Definitions

    1. enter into a contractual arrangement

    Derived terms

  2. 2. engage by written agreement

    Examples

    • « They signed two new pitchers for the next season »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. squeeze or press together

    Examples

    • « she compressed her lips »
    • « the spasm contracted the muscle »

    Derived terms

  4. 4. become smaller or draw together

    Examples

    • « The fabric shrank »
    • « The balloon shrank »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  5. 5. be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness

    Examples

    • « He got AIDS »
    • « She came down with pneumonia »
    • « She took a chill »

    Derived terms

  6. 6. make smaller

    Examples

    • « The heat contracted the woollen garment »

    Derived terms

  7. 7. compress or concentrate

    Examples

    • « Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan »

    Derived terms

  8. 8. make or become more narrow or restricted

    Examples

    • « The selection was narrowed »
    • « The road narrowed »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  9. 9. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

    Examples

    • « The manuscript must be shortened »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  10. Noun

    contract

    Etymology

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

    Definitions

    1. a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law

    Derived terms

  11. 2. (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make

    Derived terms

  12. 3. a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid

Famous quotes

  • « The universe never did make sense I suspect it was built on government contract. »
    Robert A. Heinlein
  • « I think our relationship with Epic had run its natural course, and it happened to coincide with the fulfillment of our contract. We decided not to resign with them. »
    Mike McCready
  • « If your goal is to be the biggest movie star in the world, a 10-movie contract is gold. It was never my goal. Up until now, I made movies - and I have a nice house, a nice car. I'm fortunate, happy and grateful. Life is good. »
    Chris Evans
  • « Our combination of great research universities, a pro-risk business culture, deep pools of innovation-seeking equity capital and reliable business and contract law is unprecedented and unparalleled in the world. »
    Marc Andreessen
  • « A good businessman never makes a contract unless he's sure he can carry it through, yet every fool on earth is perfectly willing to sign a marriage contract without considering whether he can live up to it or not. »
    Dalton Trumbo

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