Collins English-English Dictionary

contract

1. 1. vb to make or become smaller, narrower, shorter, etc

   metals contract as the temperature is reduced

2. 2. vb [when intr, 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. 3. vb to draw or be drawn together; coalesce or cause to coalesce

4. 4. vt. [tr] to acquire, incur, or become affected by (a disease, liability, debt, etc)

5. 5. vt. [tr] to shorten (a word or phrase) by the omission of letters or syllables, usually indicated in writing by an apostrophe

6. 6. vt. [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. 7. vt. [tr] to wrinkle or draw together (the brow or a muscle)

8. 8. vt. [tr] to arrange (a marriage) for; betroth

9. 9. n a formal agreement between two or more parties

10. 10. n a document that states the terms of such an agreement

11. 11. n the branch of law treating of contracts

12. 12. n marriage considered as a formal agreement

13. 13. n See contract bridge

14. 14. n [bridge] (in the bidding sequence before play) the highest bid, which determines trumps and the number of tricks one side must try to make

15. 15. n the number and suit of these tricks

16. 16. n [slang] a criminal agreement to kill a particular person in return for an agreed sum of money

17. 17. n (as modifier)

    a contract killing

18. 18. n [Etymology] C16: from Latin contractus agreement, something drawn up, from contrahere to draw together, from trahere to draw