contact

noun con·tact \ ˈkän-ˌtakt \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Definition of contact

1 a : union or junction of surfaces

Cooling begins when the lava makes contact with the air.

b : the apparent touching or mutual tangency of the limbs of two celestial bodies or of the disk of one body with the shadow of another during an eclipse, transit, or occultation

c (1) : the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes

(2) : a special part made for such a junction

The camera's flash wasn't working because the electrical contacts needed to be cleaned.

2 a : association, relationship

students and teachers in daily contact

b : connection, communication

I lost contact with her years ago.

c : an establishing of communication with someone or an observing or receiving of a significant signal from a person or object

radar contact with Mars

3 : a person serving as a go-between, messenger, connection, or source of special information

business contacts

4 : contact lens

She wears contacts more often than glasses.

See contact defined for English-language learners

See contact defined for kids

Examples of contact in a Sentence

Physical contact between a mother and child is very important.
a disease that is spread by sexual contact
Contacts between the two leaders have been frequent in recent weeks.
I applied for a job at that law firm because I have a contact there.

Recent Examples of contact from the Web

The contact at our New York office is: Paul Ramundo Phone: +1 (212) 617-7816 Fax: +1 (917) 369-3801 Email: Pramundo@bloomberg.net.

— Bloomberg, "Terms of Service," 8 July 2018
Then the contacts of those vaccinated people are tracked down and vaccinated.

— NBC News, "Ebola virus outbreak likely over in Congo, WHO says," 6 July 2018
Another team seeking a military contact was Target Arm.

— andrew craft, Fox News, "Air Force 'innovation hub' looks to help tech startups," 6 July 2018
Sumner had difficulty finishing through the contact because there was a lot of it that probably should’ve been whistled that was not.

— j. michael, Indianapolis Star, "Evaluating 4 key performances for Pacers in Las Vegas summer league opening loss," 6 July 2018
For the past seven decades, contact with the American Trumps has been sporadic.

— katrin bennhold, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump’s ancestral village abounds with his relatives. Few will admit it," 3 July 2018
Some devices are sending photos from your camera roll to the contacts in your phone – randomly, and without permission.

— kim quindlen, Teen Vogue, "Samsung Phones Reportedly Send Out Users’ Photos at Random," 3 July 2018
Ross later clarified the piece, citing that his source said the contact was made after Trump won the election.

— stephen battaglio, latimes.com, "ABC News parts ways with investigative reporter Brian Ross," 2 July 2018
The contact between the tooth and the metal riding equipment can cause pain and tooth damage, so both Western veterinarians and Mongolian herders routinely remove these teeth.

— lizzie wade, Science | AAAS, "3000-year-old sawn-off tooth may be the earliest evidence of horse dentistry," 2 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contact.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of contact

French or Latin; French, from Latin contactus, from contingere to have contact with — more at contingent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1626

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

contact Synonyms

Synonyms

connection;

Related Words

in, insider;

big shot, bigwig, somebody, VIP;

arbiter, arbitrator, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker;

contact

verb con·tact \ ˈkän-ˌtakt , kən-ˈtakt \

Definition of contact

contacted; contacting; contacts

intransitive verb

: to make contact

the point at which the two surfaces contact

transitive verb

1 : to bring into contact

2 a : to enter or be in contact with : join

The spark contacted the gunpowder.

b : to get in communication with

Contact your local dealer.

See contact defined for English-language learners

Is contact a verb?

The use of contact as a verb, especially in sense 2b, is accepted as standard by almost all commentators except those who write college handbooks.

Examples of contact in a Sentence

For more information, contact the city's tourism office.
We were able to contact them by radio.
She contacted everyone on the list.

Recent Examples of contact from the Web

Jordan's office initially said it had not been contacted by investigators.

— julie carr smyth, Cincinnati.com, "Investigators' emails to US Rep. Jordan went to bad address," 6 July 2018
Neither of the twins was contacted by producers to reprise their role.

— diane bell, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tom Cruise movie sequel takes off without San Diego's "Top Gun" twins.," 6 July 2018
While Nice are yet to find an arrangement with anyone over the player's price, rumours have been circulating that he's been contacted by the likes of Tottenham, Fulham and West Ham.

— SI.com, "Ligue 1 Striker Snubs Host of Premier League Clubs for Newcastle United Transfer," 5 July 2018
And the credit union couldn't call those with cell phones, if the customer had not agreed to be contacted by cell phone, Michel said.

— susan tompor, Detroit Free Press, "Could a tsunami of robocalls be heading to our cell phones?," 5 July 2018
The wardens were contacted by a landowner regarding his ranch manager selling hunts under the table and hunting without consent.

— Houston Chronicle, "Game warden field notes," 1 July 2018
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) joined Rosenberger on some of those trips but has said he has not been contacted by the FBI.

— max bayer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "State senators’ out-of-state travel costs taxpayers more than $40,000," 28 June 2018
Staffers said the nonprofit has been contacted by hundreds of pro bono lawyers across the country looking to help reunite families.

— silvia foster-frau, San Antonio Express-News, "RAICES hotline aims to help reunite immigrant families," 28 June 2018
Doug Williams, the owner of Wildlands Service, told the Tallahassee Democrat he had not been contacted by state officials and did not know that Putnam said investigators had determined his company was responsible for the wildfire.

— gary fineout, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida officials say controlled burn sparked fire that destroyed 36 homes," 27 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of contact

see ¹contact

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1834

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

contact Synonyms

Synonyms

address, communicate (with), get, reach;

Related Words

get through (to);

acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up);

buzz, call, phone, telephone;

keep up (with);

Phrases

get hold of, get in touch with (or keep), touch base (with);

contact

adjective con·tact \ ˈkän-ˌtakt \

Definition of contact

: maintaining, involving, or activated or caused by contact

contact poisons

contact sports

contact dermatitis

See contact defined for English-language learners

Examples of contact in a Sentence

Ice hockey is a contact sport.

Recent Examples of contact from the Web

Contact neighborhoods reporter Ruth Serven at ruth.serven@indystar.com.

— ruth serven, Indianapolis Star, "Indy tightens rules to force landlords to clean up trashy houses, but realty agents say it won't matter," 10 July 2017
Sunday brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact 847-549-1972 or www.austinssaloon.com.

— shonda talerico dudlicek, Lake County News-Sun, "Libertyville's Austin Saloon adapts with owners' life changes," 20 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of contact

see ¹contact

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1859

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

CONTACT Defined for English Language Learners

contact

noun

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

: the state or condition that exists when two people or things physically touch each other : a state of touching
: the state or condition that exists when people see and communicate with each other
: an occurrence in which people communicate with each other

contact

verb

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

: to call or write to (someone or something) : to communicate with (someone or something)

contact

adjective

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

sports : allowing players to touch or hit each other
: acting when physical contact occurs

CONTACT Defined for Kids

contact

noun con·tact \ ˈkän-ˌtakt \

Definition of contact for Students

1 : a meeting or touching of persons or things

2 : communication with other people

Have you been in contact with her?

He has no outside contact.

3 : a person someone knows who serves as a connection especially in the business or political world

I've got contacts in the company.

4 : contact lens

Word Root of contact

The Latin word tangere, meaning “to touch,” and its form tactus give us the roots tang and tact. Words from the Latin tangere have something to do with touching. Something tangible is able to be touched. Contact is a meeting or touching of people or things. Something intact is unharmed, whole, and untouched. Anything tactile relates to the sense of touch.

contact

verb

Definition of contact for Students

contacted; contacting

1 : to touch or make touch physically

2 : to get in touch or communication with

contact

adjective

Definition of contact for Students

: involving or activated by physical interaction

contact sports

contact poisons

Medical Dictionary

contact

noun con·tact \ ˈkän-ˌtakt \

medical Definition of contact

1 : union or junction of body surfaces

sexual contact

2 a : the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes

b : a special part that has been made for such a junction

3 : direct experience through the senses

loss of contact with reality

4 : contact lens

contact

adjective

medical Definition of contact

: caused or transmitted by direct or indirect contact (as with an allergen or a contagious disease)

a contact allergy

Learn More about contact

See words that rhyme with contact Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for contact Spanish Central: Translation of contact Nglish: Translation of contact for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of contact for Arabic speakers

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contact

Definition of contact

Examples of contact in a Sentence

Recent Examples of contact from the Web

Origin and Etymology of contact

contact Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

contact

Definition of contact

Is contact a verb?

Examples of contact in a Sentence

Recent Examples of contact from the Web

Origin and Etymology of contact

contact Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases

contact

Definition of contact

Examples of contact in a Sentence

Recent Examples of contact from the Web

Origin and Etymology of contact

Phrases Related to CONTACT

Related Phrases

CONTACT Defined for English Language Learners

contact

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

contact

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

contact

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

CONTACT Defined for Kids

contact

Definition of contact for Students

Word Root of contact

contact

Definition of contact for Students

contact

Definition of contact for Students

Medical Dictionary

contact

medical Definition of contact

contact

medical Definition of contact

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