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1. Dictionary

   contract

   noun

   • 1. a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law: "he has just signed a contract keeping him with the club"
   • ▪ 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 trumps: "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 contracts about seventy times a minute" Similar tightenbecome/make tightertenseflexconstrictdraw inbecome/make narrowernarrowwrinkleknitcreasecorrugatepursepuckerOpposite relax
   • ▪ shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision: "these sources were called" 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
   • ▪ choose to be involved in (a scheme): British "politically committed members contract into paying the levy"
   • ▪ choose to withdraw from or not become involved in a scheme: British "plans to encourage people to contract out of the pension scheme"
   • ▪ 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): "kings obtained dispensations to enable them to contract politically advantageous matches"
   • ▪ 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

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • C

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   • T

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishCONTRACTED | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   CONTRACTED definition: 1. past simple and past participle of contract 2. to make or become shorter or narrower or…. Learn more.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryCONTRACTED | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   to make or become shorter or narrower or generally smaller in size: contract to In spoken English, "do not" often contracts to "don't". As it cooled, the metal contracted. [ I ] to become smaller in amount or quantity: A recession is a period when the economy is contracting.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › contractedContracted Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › contracted

   • Cached

   b. : a business arrangement for the supply of goods or services at a fixed price. make parts on contract. c. : the act of marriage or an agreement to marry. 2. : a document describing the terms of a contract.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishCONTRACTED definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   CONTRACTED definition: drawn together; reduced in compass or size; made smaller; shrunken | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishCONTRACT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   When something contracts or when something contracts it, it becomes smaller or shorter. Blood is only expelled from the heart when it contracts. [VERB] New research shows that an excess of meat and salt can contract muscles. [VERB noun] Synonyms: constrict, confine, tighten, shorten More Synonyms of contract.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › contractedContracted - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › contracted

   Contracted is an adjective that usually describes physical things. If your eyebrows look contracted, they are probably furrowed and scrunched up. If your tummy is contracted, it is probably drawn in and flat.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishcontract verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of contract verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.