Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense contacts, present participle contacting, past tense, past participle contacted
1. uncountable noun
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
Opposition leaders are denying any contact with the rebels. [+ with]
He forbade contacts between directors and executives outside his presence. [+ between]
Synonyms: communication, link, association, connection More Synonyms of contact
2.
See in contact (with sb)
3. verb
If you contact someone, you telephone them, write to them, or go to see them in order to tell or ask them something.
Contact the Tourist Information Bureau for further details. [VERB noun]
When she first contacted me, Frances was upset. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: get or be in touch with, call, reach, approach More Synonyms of contact
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Your contact details or number are information such as a telephone number where you can be contacted.
You must leave your full name and contact details when you phone.
5. uncountable noun
If you come into contact with someone or something, you meet that person or thing in the course of your work or other activities.
Doctors I came into contact with voiced their concern.
The college has brought me into contact with western ideas.
6.
See make contact (with sb)
7.
See to lose contact
8. uncountable noun [oft in/intoNwith n]
When people or things are in contact, they are touching each other.
They compared how these organisms behaved when left in contact with different materials.
The cry occurs when air is brought into contact with the baby's larynx.
There was no physical contact, nor did I want any.
This shows where the foot and shoe are in contact.
9. uncountable noun
Radio contact is communication by means of radio.
He failed to make radio contact.
The plane lost contact with the control tower shortly after take-off. [+ with]
10. countable noun
A contact is someone you know in an organization or profession who helps you or gives you information.
Their contact in the United States Embassy was called Phil.
11. to make eye contact
More Synonyms of contact
contact in British English
noun (ˈkɒntækt)
1.
the act or state of touching physically
2.
the state or fact of close association or communication (esp in the phrases in contact, make contact)
3.
a.
a junction of two or more electrical conductors
b.
the part of the conductors that makes the junction
c.
the part of an electrical device to which such connections are made
4.
an acquaintance, esp one who might be useful in business, as a means of introduction, etc
5.
any person who has been exposed to a contagious disease
6. photography contact print
7. (usually plural) an informal name for contact lens
8. (modifier)
of or relating to irritation or inflammation of the skin caused by touching the causative agent
contact dermatitis
9. (modifier)
denoting an insecticide or herbicide that kills on contact, rather than after ingestion or absorption
10. (modifier)
of or maintaining contact
11. (modifier)
requiring or involving (physical) contact
the contact sport of boxing
verb (ˈkɒntækt, kənˈtækt)
12. (whenintr, often foll by with)
to put, come, or be in association, touch, or communication
exclamation
13. aeronautics
(formerly) a call made by the pilot to indicate that an aircraft's ignition is switched on and that the engine is ready for starting by swinging the propeller
Derived forms
contactual (kɒnˈtæktjʊəl)
adjective
contactually (conˈtactually)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin contactus, from contingere to touch on all sides, pollute, from tangere to touch
contact in American English
(ˈkɑnˌtækt; for v., occas. kənˈtækt)
noun
1.
the act or state of touching or meeting
two surfaces in contact
2.
the state or fact of being in touch, communication, or association (with)
to come into contact with new ideas
3. US
a.
an acquaintance, esp. one who is influential
b.
a connection with such a person
his contacts at city hall
4. Electricity
a.
a connection or point of connection between two conductors in a circuit
b.
a device for opening and closing such a connection
5. Medicine
a person who may have caught a disease from an infected person
6.
contact lens
usually used in pl.
verb transitive
7.
to place in contact
8.
to come into contact with
9. US
to get in touch or communication with
verb intransitive
10.
to be in or come into contact
adjective
11.
of, involving, or relating to contact
adverb
12.
by means of contact flying
Word origin
L contactus, pp. of contingere, to touch, seize < com-, together + tangere, to touch: see tact
contact in Chemical Engineering
(kɒntækt)
Word forms: (regular plural) contacts
noun
(Chemical Engineering: General)
Contact is when two or more solids, liquids, or gases are brought together, especially to increase a reaction or exchange.
An absorption tower is a column which effects contact between a rising gas and a falling liquid, so that part of the gas may be taken upby the liquid.
Lubricants lower friction between particles and thus improve contact between them.
Contact is when two or more solids, liquids, or gases are brought together, especially toincrease a reaction or exchange.
COBUILD Collocations
contact
direct contact
frequent contact
human contact
initial contact
personal contact
Examples of 'contact' in a sentence
contact
We would urge anybody with information to contact us.
The Sun (2017)
They raised the alarm when he failed to make contact again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She contacted the phone firm but claims no one got back to her.
The Sun (2016)
Their aircraft went down while out of radio contact in a remote marsh.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Citizens should only have telephone or direct contact with local government when all other avenues have been exhausted.
Computing (2010)
There is a difference between intimacy and social contact, close friends and acquaintances.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The doctor told me not to take part in contact sport for a year, but what happens after that?
The Sun (2017)
You could always contact me direct, Max.
The Sun (2017)
The number of contacts grew from 5,200 in the first half of the year to about 6,500 in the second half.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The site also lists emergency contact numbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They keep close contact with the universities and teaching hospitals of the regions.
Brown, Muriel & Payne Sarah Introduction to Social Administration in Britain (1990)
The letters said further contact would be made when payment was imminent.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We managed to not actually have real physical contact.
The Sun (2016)
You can also get this information by contacting the firms directly or through a credit bureau.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
The third behaviour was what was called contact.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This would not be possible if the main intention was to entertain business clients and contacts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The passports were bona fide but illegally obtained via government contacts.
The Sun (2015)
Try to establish a physical address and telephone contact number.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If you wear contact lenses may make eyes dry.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
You must also include a contact phone number where you can be reached tomorrow.
The Sun (2006)
This is the "eye contact" part of the process.
Christianity Today (2000)
If anyone knows anything please contact the police.
The Sun (2012)
Ask your local contacts for a recommended dealer.
Eccles, Lesley Your First Horse - buying, feeding, caring (1989)
Companies that are not signed up to the association still contact consumers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They must also avoid contact with two other former colleagues currently on police bail.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your first point of contact should always be the company.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You need to leave a contact number and address with them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Radio has a contact with the audience in a very special way.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Try not to lose contact altogether.
Pearce, Dr John Families and Friends - how to help your child form happy relationships. (1989)
He had made the contacts and come across venues and ideas while working as a chaperone and knew what he wanted to offer clients.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
contact
British English: contact /ˈkɒntækt/ NOUN
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone.
I have very little contact with children.
American English: contact
Arabic: اِتِّصَال
Brazilian Portuguese: contato
Chinese: 联络
Croatian: kontakt
Czech: kontakt
Danish: kontakt forbindelse
Dutch: contact
European Spanish: contacto
Finnish: yhteys
French: contact
German: Kontakt
Greek: επαφή
Italian: contatto
Japanese: 連絡
Korean: 접촉
Norwegian: kontakt
Polish: kontakt
European Portuguese: contacto
Romanian: contact
Russian: отношения
Latin American Spanish: contacto
Swedish: kontakt anknytning
Thai: การติดต่อ
Turkish: temas
Ukrainian: контакт
Vietnamese: sự liên hệ
British English: contact /ˈkɒntækt/ VERB
If you contact someone, you telephone them or write to them.
Have you contacted him?
American English: contact
Arabic: يَتَصِّلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: contatar
Chinese: 联系
Croatian: kontaktirati
Czech: kontaktovat
Danish: kontakte
Dutch: contact opnemen met
European Spanish: ponerse en contacto
Finnish: ottaa yhteyttä
French: contacter
German: kontaktieren
Greek: έρχομαι σε επαφή
Italian: contattare
Japanese: 連絡を取る
Korean: 연락하다
Norwegian: kontakte
Polish: kontaktować
European Portuguese: contactar
Romanian: a contacta
Russian: контактировать
Latin American Spanish: ponerse en contacto
Swedish: kontakta
Thai: ติดต่อ
Turkish: temas kurmak
Ukrainian: зв'язуватися
Vietnamese: liên hệ
British English: contact ADJECTIVE
Your contact details or number are information such as a telephone number where you can be contacted.
You must leave your full name and contact details when you phone.
American English: contact
Brazilian Portuguese: de contato
Chinese: 联络用的
European Spanish: de contacto
French: où l'on peut contacter quelq'unN
German: Kontakt-
Italian: per contattare
Japanese: 連絡先の
Korean: 연락처
European Portuguese: de contacto
Latin American Spanish: de contacto
All related terms of 'contact'
contact man
an intermediary or go-between
eye contact
a direct look between two people; meeting of eyes
contact high
a state of altered consciousness caused by inhaling the drugs other people are smoking
contact lens
Contact lenses are small plastic lenses that you put on the surface of your eyes to help you see better , instead of wearing glasses .
contact print
a photographic print made by exposing the printing paper through a negative placed directly onto it
contact sheet
a contact print , usually of all frames of a developed roll of negative print film, used as a proof print
contact sport
a sport that involves physical contact between participants, such as rugby
human contact
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
radio contact
communication or contact by means of radio waves
contact address
an address where a person can be contacted
contact breaker
a switching device used in the distributor of an internal-combustion engine which controls the timing of the spark that ignites the spark plug
contact cement
an adhesive that sets when the surfaces it is applied to are brought in contact with each other
contact centre
an office where staff carry out an organization's telephone transactions
contact details
the information required to contact someone, such as an address or telephone number
contact flight
a flight in which the pilot remains in sight of land or water
contact flying
flying an airplane in conditions of good visibility so that the course and altitude can be determined by observing points or objects on the ground; VFR
contact number
a person's telephone number
direct contact
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
initial contact
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
contact dermatitis
dermatitis caused by direct contact with an irritating substance, as an allergen or chemical
contact magazine
a magazine in which to place adverts to make contacts , esp sexual ones
frequent contact
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
personal contact
Contact involves meeting or communicating with someone, especially regularly.
contact insecticide
an insecticide that kills on contact , rather than after ingestion or absorption
gas oil contact
In a reservoir , gas oil contact is the area containing a mix of gas and oil, below which there is mainly oil and above which there is mainly gas.
soft contact lens
a flexible hydrogel lens worn on the surface of the eye to correct defects of vision
to lose contact
If you lose contact with someone who you have been friendly with, you no longer see them, speak to them, or write to them.
contact the charity
A charity is an organization which raises money in order to help people who are sick or very poor, or who have a disability .
in contact (with sb)
If you are in contact with someone, you regularly meet them or communicate with them.
to make eye contact
If you make eye contact with someone, you look at them at the same time as they look at you, so that you are both aware that you are looking at each other. If you avoid eye contact with someone, you deliberately do not look straight at them because you feel awkward or embarrassed .
make contact (with sb)
If you make contact with someone, you find out where they are and talk or write to them.