Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense contracts, present participle contracting, past tense, past participle contractedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (kɒntrækt). The verb is pronounced (kəntrækt).
1. countable noun
A contract is a legal agreement, usually between two companies or between an employer and employee, which involves doing work for a stated sum of money.
The company won a prestigious contract for work on Europe's tallest building.
He was given a seven-year contract with an annual salary of $150,000.
Synonyms: agreement, deal [informal], commission, commitment More Synonyms of contract
2. verb
If you contractwith someone to do something, you legally agree to do it for them or for them to do it for you.
[formal]
You can contract with us to deliver your cargo. [VERB + with]
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has already contracted to lease part of its collectionto a museum in Japan. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: agree, arrange, negotiate, engage More Synonyms of contract
3. verb
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
...the contraction and expansion of blood vessels. [+ of]
Foods and fluids are mixed in the stomach by its muscular contractions.
Synonyms: tightening, narrowing, tensing, shortening More Synonyms of contract
4. verb
When something such as an economy or market contracts, it becomes smaller.
The manufacturing economy contracted in October for the sixth consecutive month. [VERB]
5. verb [no cont]
If you contract a serious illness, you become ill with it.
[formal]
He contracted the disease from a blood transfusion. [VERB noun]
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer contracted by women. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: catch, get, develop, acquire More Synonyms of contract
6. verb
If you contract a marriage, alliance, or other relationship with someone, you arrange to have that relationship with them.
[formal]
She contracted a formal marriage to a British ex-serviceman. [VERB noun]
7. countable noun
If there is a contracton a person or on their life, someone has made an arrangement to have them killed.
[informal]
The convictions resulted in the local crime bosses putting a contract on him. [+ on]
The police advised her to get out of town because there was a contract on her life.
8.
See under contract
Phrasal verbs:
See contract out
More Synonyms of contract
contract in British English
verb (kənˈtrækt)
1.
to make or become smaller, narrower, shorter, etc
metals contract as the temperature is reduced
2. (ˈkɒntrækt)(whenintr, sometimes foll by for; when tr, may take an infinitive)
to enter into an agreement with (a person, company, etc) to deliver (goods or services) or to do (something) on mutually agreed and binding terms, often in writing
3.
to draw or be drawn together; coalesce or cause to coalesce
4. (transitive)
to acquire, incur, or become affected by (a disease, liability, debt, etc)
5. (transitive)
to shorten (a word or phrase) by the omission of letters or syllables, usually indicated in writing by an apostrophe
6. phonetics
to unite (two vowels) or (of two vowels) to be united within a word or at a word boundary so that a new long vowel or diphthong is formed
7. (transitive)
to wrinkle or draw together (the brow or a muscle)
8. (transitive)
to arrange (a marriage) for; betroth
noun (ˈkɒntrækt)
9.
a formal agreement between two or more parties
10.
a document that states the terms of such an agreement
11.
the branch of law treating of contracts
12.
marriage considered as a formal agreement
13. contract bridge
14. bridge
a.
(in the bidding sequence before play) the highest bid, which determines trumps and the number of tricks one side must try to make
b.
the number and suit of these tricks
15. slang
a.
a criminal agreement to kill a particular person in return for an agreed sum of money
b.
(as modifier)
a contract killing
Derived forms
contractible (conˈtractible)
adjective
contractibly (conˈtractibly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin contractus agreement, something drawn up, from contrahere to draw together, from trahere to draw
contract in American English
( noun & adjective and usually for v. 16–18, 22, 23 ˈkɑntrækt, otherwise v. kənˈtrækt)
noun
1.
an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified
2.
an agreement enforceable by law
3.
the written form of such an agreement
4.
the division of law dealing with contracts
5. Also called: contract bridge
a variety of bridge in which the side that wins the bid can earn toward game only that number of tricks named in the contract, additional points being credited above the line
Compare auction bridge
6. (in auction or contract bridge)
a.
a commitment by the declarer and his or her partner to take six tricks plus the number specified by the final bid made
b.
the final bid itself
c.
the number of tricks so specified, plus six
7.
the formal agreement of marriage; betrothal
8. slang
an arrangement for a hired assassin to kill a specific person
9. See put out a contract on
adjective
10.
under contract; governed or arranged by special contract
a contract carrier
transitive verb
11.
to draw together or into smaller compass; draw the parts of together
to contract a muscle
12.
to wrinkle
to contract the brows
13.
to shorten (a word, phrase, etc.) by combining or omitting some of its elements
Contracting “do not” yields “don't”
14.
to get or acquire, as by exposure to something contagious
to contract a disease
15.
to incur, as a liability or obligation
to contract a debt
16.
to settle or establish by agreement
to contract an alliance
17.
to assign (a job, work, project, etc.) by contract
The publisher contracted the artwork
18.
to enter into an agreement with
to contract a freelancer to do the work
19.
to enter into (friendship, acquaintance, etc.)
20.
to betroth
intransitive verb
21.
to become drawn together or reduced in compass; become smaller; shrink
The pupils of his eyes contracted in the light
22.
to enter into an agreement
to contract for snow removal
23. See contract out
Derived forms
contractee
noun
contractible
adjective
contractibility or contractibleness
noun
contractibly
adverb
Word origin
[1275–1325; (n.) ME (‹ AF) ‹ L contractus undertaking a transaction, agreement, equiv. to contrac-, var. s. of contrahere to draw in, bring together, enter into an agreement (con-con- + trahere to drag, pull; cf traction) + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) ‹ L contractus, ptp. of contrahere]
contract in Accounting
(kɒntrækt)
Word forms: (regular plural) contracts
noun
(Accounting: Commerce)
A contract is an official agreement between two or more companies or people, in which each party has rights and obligations.
They recently signed a contract with a major food company to supply a billion aluminum food cans.
Producers are refusing to sign long-term contracts because they expect higher prices.
A contract is an official agreement between two or more companies or people, in which each partyhas rights and obligations.
Talking about contractsPeople negotiate a contract to come to an agreement, and when they have done that, they sign the contract.If you end a contract, you terminate or cancel it, and if the contract reaches the end of its time period, it expires. If you agree to make it longer, you extend it.
Examples of 'contract' in a sentence
contract
Later Lazard found out there was a petrol contract attached to the deal.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
Then, four years ago, Derek was offered a five-year contract in Mexico with a company house thrown in.
Val McDermid KICK BACK (2002)
No contract entered into under those circumstances would ever stand scrutiny in court.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2002)
I found out the mayor's being investigated in the gambling contract, which is why we're getting this heat.
Dreyer, Eileen BAD MEDICINE (2002)
Quotations
A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it is written onSam Goldwyn
Word lists with
contract
terms used in bridge
In other languages
contract
British English: contract /ˈkɒntrækt/ NOUN
A contract is a legal agreement, usually between two companies or between an employer and employee, which involves doing work for a stated sum of money.
He signed a contract to play for the team for two years.
American English: contract
Arabic: عَقْد
Brazilian Portuguese: contrato
Chinese: 合同
Croatian: ugovor
Czech: smlouva
Danish: kontrakt
Dutch: contract
European Spanish: contrato
Finnish: sopimus virallinen
French: contrat
German: Vertrag
Greek: συμβόλαιο
Italian: contratto
Japanese: 契約
Korean: 계약
Norwegian: kontrakt
Polish: umowa kontrakt
European Portuguese: contrato
Romanian: contract
Russian: контракт
Latin American Spanish: contrato
Swedish: kontrakt
Thai: สัญญา สัญญา
Turkish: kontrat
Ukrainian: контракт
Vietnamese: hợp đồng
British English: contract VERB
shrink When something such as an economy or market contracts, it becomes smaller.
The manufacturing economy contracted in October for the sixth consecutive month.
American English: contract
Brazilian Portuguese: contrair-se
Chinese: 紧缩
European Spanish: contraerse
French: se contracter
German: schrumpfen
Italian: ridursi
Japanese: 収縮する
Korean: 줄어들다
European Portuguese: contrair-se
Latin American Spanish: contraerse
British English: contract VERB
agree If you contract with someone to do something, you legally agree to do it for them or for them to do it for you.
You can contract with us to deliver your cargo.
American English: contract
Brazilian Portuguese: contratar
Chinese: 订合同
European Spanish: contratar
French: conclure un contratN
German: sich vertraglich verpflichten
Italian: stipulare un contratto
Japanese: 契約を結ぶ
Korean: 계약하다
European Portuguese: contratar
Latin American Spanish: contratar
All related terms of 'contract'
contract law
the branch of law that deals with contracts
contract out
If a company contracts out work, they employ other companies to do it.
contract work
the work specified in a short-term contract , esp as opposed to regular employment
land contract
a contract for the purchase and sale of land
contract bridge
the most common variety of bridge , in which the declarer receives points counting towards game and rubber only for tricks he or she bids as well as makes, any overtricks receiving bonus points
contract killer
a person hired to commit a murder
contract price
a price for goods or services named in a contract
quasi-contract
an implied contract which arises without the express agreement of the parties
social contract
(in the theories of Locke , Hobbes , Rousseau , and others) an agreement , entered into by individuals, that results in the formation of the state or of organized society, the prime motive being the desire for protection , which entails the surrender of some or all personal liberties
under contract
If you are under contract to someone, you have signed a contract agreeing to work for them, and for no-one else, during a fixed period of time.
contract killing
a murder carried out in fulfilment of a contract
forward contract
a contract to buy or sell an asset at a point in the future at a previously agreed price
service contract
a contract between an employer and a senior employee , esp a director , executive , etc
voidable contract
a contract or agreement that is capable of being made of no legal effect or made void
breach of contract
the act of breaking the conditions of a contract
gratuitous contract
a contract for the benefit of the person for whom it is made, without a reciprocal promise of benefit to the maker
maintenance contract
a formal agreement between two parties which states that one party will keep a building, vehicle, machine , etc, belonging to the other party in good condition by regularly checking it and repairing it when necessary
rescind a contract
If an insurer rescinds an insurance contract , it terminates it because facts have been concealed or misrepresented by the proposer.
sweetheart contract
a contract arranged by collusion between union officials and an employer with terms disadvantageous to union members
contract of service
a written agreement between an employer and an employee , that, taken together with the rights of each under statute and common law, determines the employment relations between them
fixed cost contract
a contract in which the costs do not vary
fixed-price contract
a contract in which the price is preset and invariable , regardless of the actual costs of production.
fixed-term contract
a contract for a particular and fixed period
yellow-dog contract
a contract with an employer , now illegal , in which an employee agreed not to join a trade union during his or her employment
zero-hours contract
A zero-hours contract is a contract where the employer does not have to provide regular work for the employee, but the employee has to be on call in case they are needed to work.
contract of employment
a written agreement between an employer and an employee , that, taken together with the rights of each under statute and common law, determines the employment relations between them
antenuptial marriage contract
a contract made between two people before they marry , agreeing on the distribution of their assets in the event of divorce
put out a contract on
to hire or attempt to hire an assassin to kill (someone)
Chinese translation of 'contract'
contract
(nˈkɔntrækt; vbkənˈtrækt)
n(c)
合同 (hétong) (份, fèn)
vi
(= become smaller)[metal, muscle]收缩(縮) (shōusuō)
to contract (with sb) to do sth(和某人)订(訂)做某事的合同 ((hé mǒurén) dìng zuò mǒushì de hétong)
vt
[illness]感染 (gǎnrǎn)
cpd
[work]合同 (hétong)
contract of employment工作合同 (gōngzuò hétong)
(noun)
Definition
a formal agreement between two or more parties
The company won a prestigious contract for work on the building.
Synonyms
agreement
a new defence agreement
deal (informal)
Japan has done a deal with America on rice exports.
commission
commitment
arrangement
The caves can be visited only by prior arrangement.
understanding
We had not set a date but there was an understanding between us.
settlement
Our objective must be to secure a peace settlement.
treaty
negotiations over an international treaty on global warming
bargain
The treaty was based on a bargain between the governments.
convention
the importance of observing the Geneva convention on human rights
engagement
pact
The two countries signed a non-aggression pact.
compact
The Pilgrims signed a democratic compact aboard the Mayflower.
covenant
the United Nations covenant on civil and political rights
bond
I'm not about to betray my bond with my brother.
stipulation
His only stipulation is that his clients follow his advice.
concordat
1 (verb)
Definition
to make a formal agreement with (a person or company) to do or deliver (something)
He has contracted to lease part of the collection to a museum in Japan.
Synonyms
agree
I'm not sure I agree with you.
arrange
negotiate
The president may be willing to negotiate with the democrats.
engage
pledge
I pledge that by next year we will have the problem solved.
bargain
They prefer to bargain with individual clients, for cash.
undertake
He undertook to edit the text himself.
come to terms
shake hands
covenant
In the deed of separation, she covenanted that she would not revoke her will.
make a deal
commit yourself
enter into an agreement
Opposites
refuse,
decline
,
disagree
,
turn down
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become smaller, narrower, or shorter
New research shows that an excess of meat and salt can contract muscles.
Synonyms
constrict
Severe migraine can be treated with a drug which constricts the blood vessels.
confine
tighten
Her throat had tightened and she couldn't speak.
shorten
When the days shorten, some people suffer from depression.
wither
His leg muscles had withered from lack of use.
compress
Textbooks compressed six millennia of Egyptian history into a few pages.
condense
The English translation has been condensed into a single more readable book.
shrivel
The plant shrivels and dies.
3 (verb)
Definition
to draw (muscles) together or (of muscles) to be drawn together
As we move our bodies, our muscles contract and relax.
Synonyms
tighten
He flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope.
narrow
knit
They knitted their brows and started to grumble.
purse
She pursed her lips in disapproval.
shorten
The day surgery will help to shorten waiting lists.
pucker
She puckered her lips at the sour taste of lemon.
wrinkle
Opposites
develop
,
stretch
,
expand
,
swell
,
widen
,
enlarge
,
broaden
,
distend
4 (verb)
Definition
to make or become smaller, narrower, or shorter
Output fell last year and is expected to contract further this year.
Synonyms
lessen
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
reduce
Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
shrink
The vast forests have shrunk.
diminish
The threat of war has diminished.
decrease
The medication is said to decrease the risk of heart attack.
dwindle
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
Opposites
increase,
grow
,
develop
,
spread
,
expand
,
swell
,
widen
,
multiply
,
inflate
5 (verb)
Definition
to become affected by (an illness)
Norton had contracted tuberculosis and been sent off to a sanatorium.
Synonyms
catch
The more stress you are under, the more likely you are to catch a cold.
get
When I was five I got measles.
develop
He developed pneumonia after a bout of flu.
acquire
incur
be infected with
go down with
be afflicted with
Opposites
avoid
,
escape
,
avert
,
ward off
6 (verb)
Synonyms
abridge
We don't abridge any of the stories we publish.
curtail
abbreviate
He abbreviated his first name to Alec.
epitomize
Quotation
A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it is written on [Sam Goldwyn]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abbreviate
Definition
to cut short
He abbreviated his first name to Alec.
Synonyms
shorten,
reduce,
contract,
trim,
cut,
clip,
abstract,
digest,
prune,
summarize,
compress,
curtail,
condense,
truncate,
epitomize,
abridge,
précis
in the sense of arrangement
Definition
an agreement or a plan to do something
The caves can be visited only by prior arrangement.
Synonyms
agreement,
contract,
settlement,
appointment,
compromise,
deal (informal),
pact,
compact,
covenant
in the sense of bargain
Definition
an agreement establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction
The treaty was based on a bargain between the governments.