contract
2con·tract
verb\vt 2a & vi 1 usually ˈkän-ˌtrakt, others usually kən-ˈ\
Definition of CONTRACT
transitive verb
1
a : to bring on oneself especially inadvertently : incur <contracting debts> b : to become affected with <contract pneumonia>
2
a : to establish or undertake by contract <contract a job> b : betroth; also : to establish (a marriage) formally c (1) : to hire by contract <contract a lawyer> (2) : to purchase (as goods or services) on a contract basis —often used with out
3
a : limit, restrict <contract the scope of their activities> b : knit, wrinkle <frown contracted his brow> c : to draw together : concentrate
4
: to reduce to smaller size by or as if by squeezing or forcing together <contract a muscle>
5
: to shorten (as a word) by omitting one or more sounds or letters
intransitive verb
1
: to make a contract
2
: to draw together so as to become diminished in size <metal contracts on cooling>; also : to become less in compass, duration, or length <muscle contracts in tetanus>
— con·tract·ibil·i·ty \kən-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē, ˌkän-\ noun
— con·tract·ible \kən-ˈtrak-tə-bəl, ˈkän-ˌ\ adjective
Examples of CONTRACT
- She contracted her lips into a frown.
- The muscle expands and then contracts.
- The hot metal contracted as it cooled.
Origin of CONTRACT
Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French contracter to agree upon, from Latin contractus
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to CONTRACT
Related Words: break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen
Near Antonyms: come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back; rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)
Synonym Discussion of CONTRACT
contract, shrink, condense, compress, constrict, deflate mean to decrease in bulk or volume. contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length <caused her muscles to contract>. shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions <the sweater will shrink when washed>. condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content <condense the essay into a paragraph>. compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance <compressed cotton into bales>. constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter <the throat is constricted by a tight collar>. deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas <deflate the balloon>.
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