Definition of Contract

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


2. Verb. Enter into a contractual arrangement. "They contract to move "
Exact synonyms: Undertake
Generic synonyms: Assure, Promise
Specialized synonyms: Stipulate, Sign, Condition, Qualify, Specify, Stipulate, Lease, Rent, Charter, Hire, Lease, Rent
Derivative terms: Contractor

3. Noun. (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make.
Exact synonyms: Declaration
Group relationships: Bridge
Generic synonyms: Bid, Bidding
Derivative terms: Declare

4. Verb. Engage by written agreement. ; "They signed two new pitchers for the next season"
Exact synonyms: Sign, Sign On, Sign Up
Generic synonyms: Employ, Engage, Hire
Specialized synonyms: Contract Out
Derivative terms: Signer

5. Noun. A variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid.
Exact synonyms: Contract Bridge
Generic synonyms: Bridge
Specialized synonyms: No-trump

6. Verb. Squeeze or press together. "The spasm contracted the muscle"

7. Verb. Be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness. "She took a chill"
Exact synonyms: Get, Take
Generic synonyms: Come Down, Sicken
Specialized synonyms: Catch
Related verbs: Catch
Derivative terms: Contracting

8. Verb. Become smaller or draw together. "These fabrics contract easily"; "The balloon shrank"
Exact synonyms: Shrink
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Diminish, Fall, Lessen
Specialized synonyms: Flex
Derivative terms: Contraction, Shrinkage
Antonyms: Expand, Stretch

9. Verb. Make smaller. "The heat contracted the woollen garment"
Generic synonyms: Reduce, Shrink
Specialized synonyms: Purse, Wrinkle
Derivative terms: Contraction

10. Verb. Compress or concentrate. "Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan"
Exact synonyms: Concentrate, Condense
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Modify
Related verbs: Condense
Derivative terms: Concentration, Condensation, Contraction

11. Verb. Make or become more narrow or restricted. "The road narrowed"
Exact synonyms: Narrow
Generic synonyms: Change
Specialized synonyms: Bottleneck, Taper Off
Derivative terms: Contraction, Narrow, Narrowing
Also: Narrow Down
Antonyms: Widen

12. Verb. Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements. "They won't contract the story "; "The manuscript must be shortened"
Exact synonyms: Abbreviate, Abridge, Cut, Foreshorten, Reduce, Shorten
Specialized synonyms: Bowdlerise, Bowdlerize, Castrate, Expurgate, Shorten, Concentrate, Condense, Digest
Related verbs: Cut, Edit, Edit Out
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Lessen, Minify
Derivative terms: Abbreviator, Abridgement, Abridger, Contraction, Shortener
Antonyms: Expand

Definition of Contract

1. v. t. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action.

2. v. i. To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; as, iron contracts in cooling; a rope contracts when wet.

3. a. Contracted; as, a contract verb.

4. a. Contracted; affianced; betrothed.

5. n. The agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of legal rights.

Definition of Contract

1. Noun. An agreement between two or more parties, to perform a specific job or work order, often temporary or of fixed duration and usually governed by a written agreement. ¹

2. Noun. (legal) An agreement which the law will enforce in some way. A legally binding contract must contain at least one promise, i.e., a commitment or offer, by an offeror to and accepted by an offeree to do something in the future. A contract is thus executory rather than executed. ¹

3. Noun. (legal) A part of legal studies dealing with laws and jurisdiction related to contracts. ¹

4. Noun. (informal) An order, usually given to a hired assassin, to kill someone. ¹

5. Verb. (intransitive) To draw together or nearer; to shorten, narrow, or lessen. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To enter into a contract with. ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) To gain or acquire (an illness). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Contract

1. to decrease in size or volume [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Contract

1. 1. To shorten; to become reduced in size; in the case of muscle, either to shorten or to undergo an increase in tension. 2. To acquire by contagion or infection. 3. An explicit bilateral commitment by psychotherapist and patient to a defined course of action to attain the goal of the psychotherapy. Origin: L. Con-traho, pp. -tractus, to draw together (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Contract

contracepted
contracepting
contraception behaviour
contraceptions
contraceptive device
contraceptive devices
contraceptive diaphragm
contraceptive method
contraceptive pill
contraceptives
contraclockwise
contract (current term)
contract bridge
contract in
contract killer
contract killing
contract law
contract of adhesion
contract of hazard
contract of sale
contract offer
contract out
contract programming
contract services
contract under seal
contractability

Literary usage of Contract

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1908)
"Similarly, if there be a mistake about the nature of the contract proposed (as, ... Mistake about the mere quality of the subject-matter of the contract is ..."

2. Report by California, State Board of Harbor Commissioners, California State Board of Harbor Commissioners (1900)
"Date of contract, November 24, 1897. contract price $64 00 July 22, ... contract price.. $462 00 Additions to contract $32500 Deduction from contract . ..."

3. The Law of Contracts by William Herbert Page (1919)
"Characteristics of contract at primitive law. § 4. Evolution of contract at Roman law. § 5. English origin of American law of contract. § 6. ..."

4. Transactions by American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Metallurgical Society of AIME, Society of Mining Engineers of AIME., Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (U.S.). (1920)
"(New York Meeting, February, 1920) PRACTICALLY all underground work on the Minnesota iron ranges is done by miners working on a so-called contract wage ..."

5. The count of Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1846)
"And to sign the contract in three days ?" " Yes." Danglars pressed his daughter's hand in his. But it was extraordinary, neither did the father say " Thank ..."

6. The Foundations of Legal Liability: A Presentation of the Theory and by Thomas Atkins Street (1906)
"A SKETCH of the history of the common-law principles of contract may well begin with the age of Glanvill; for English contract law had no distinct or ..."

7. Lawyers' Reports Annotated by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company (1902)
"It was expressly provided that he should receive no further remuneration for any service than as stated in the contract, and that he should not contract ..."

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