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

1. She contracted her lips into a frown.
2. The muscle expands and then contracts.
3. 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

Synonyms: catch, come down (with), get, go down (with) [chiefly British], sicken (with), take

Antonyms: balloon, expand, snowball, swell

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)

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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>.