contact

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noun con·tact \ ˈkän-ˌtakt \

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

In a small sample size, Hoskins' plate discipline, in the form of a swing rate of 41.4 percent of all pitches, and contact rate of 86.7 percent of all swings, are both elite-level.

— dave sheinin, chicagotribune.com, "Amid historically bad Phillies season, Rhys Hoskins is smashing records and chasing Ted Williams," 30 Aug. 2017
Contact Deputy Coroner Rita Taylor at 502-574-6262 with any information.

— The Courier-Journal, "Next of kin sought for Donnie Ray Stephens, 52," 30 Aug. 2017
Contact Beck at 817-804-5766 and visit www.mansfieldtexas.gov for details.

— faye reeder, star-telegram, "Open house will show how Arlington Charities fights hunger, poverty," 30 Aug. 2017
By law, debt collectors have to send you a document called a validation notice within five days after they first contact you, the FTC said.

— adam bell, charlotteobserver, "Phony debts collected by NC firm posing as lawyers and cursing out consumers, FTC says," 30 Aug. 2017
This is due mostly in part to the emergence of Jordan Scarlett, the hard-running junior who forced 50 missed tackles and averaged 3.75 yards after contact last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

— jordan mcpherson, ajc, "What RB Jordan Scarlett’s suspension means for the Florida Gators," 30 Aug. 2017
If interested contact Mike Forrest at forrest.mike.r@gmail.com or Denise Jones at djsciarra@cox.net.

— courant.com, "Regional Digest: Hale's 3-Hitter Carries Skeeters Past Bees," 30 Aug. 2017
Her best friend, who worked for the Houston Police Department, convinced her to contact authorities.

— marissa miller, Teen Vogue, "Hospitals Are Charging Sexual Assault Survivors With Exorbitant Hospital Fees," 29 Aug. 2017
For the most part, early contact between the Puritans and the Indians had been peaceful.

— Longreads, "America’s First Addiction Epidemic," 29 Aug. 2017

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

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

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

Definition of contact

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

Several health insurers contacted by Bloomberg didn’t comment on the treatments.

— caroline chen, Bloomberg.com, "New Drug Price Questions Loom After Gilead's Cancer Purchase," 29 Aug. 2017
Tom Loftus can be contacted at tloftus@courier-journal.com or at 502-875-5136.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Some ideas to bail out Kentucky pension are dead on arrival, House speaker says," 29 Aug. 2017
The park ranger contacted the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, which asked for assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

— robert a. cronkleton, kansascity, "Park ranger finds skeletal human remains at Melvern Lake in Kansas," 27 Aug. 2017
Consumers should contact Nutrilife for replacement caps, safe handling and disposal of the bottles or a refund at 877-533-9572; 604-996-6609; 250-300-9455 or by email at nutrilifeproductrecall@gmail.com.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Bottles of hydrogen peroxide that can burst into flames are recalled," 24 Aug. 2017
To contact the newsroom regarding correction requests, complaints or other comments about our coverage, please email nytnews@nytimes.com or call 1-844-NYT-NEWS (1-844-698-6397).

— New York Times, "Corrections: August 23, 2017," 23 Aug. 2017
Brooks says the daycare never contacted her or her family to tell them something was wrong.

— malaika jabali, Essence.com, "Parents Demand Answers After Daycare Duct-Tapes 4-Year-Old Girl To Chair," 22 Aug. 2017
An employee, when the robbery began, was on the phone with a Bank of America employee at a branch in Oak Lawn, and that Oak Lawn employee contacted police, according to the affidavit.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "FBI: 2nd man convicted in 2013 Homewood bank holdup," 18 Aug. 2017
Trump, as of now, still has not even contacted the family of Heather Heyer.

— vanityfair.com, "Trump Is Ready to Go Down in Flames," 16 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of contact

see ¹contact

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1834

See Words from the same year

contact Synonyms

Synonyms

address, communicate (with), get, reach, get hold of, get (or keep) in touch with, touch base (with)

Related Words

get through (to); acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up); buzz, call, phone, ring (up) [chiefly British], telephone; keep up (with)

contact

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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

See Words from the same year

CONTACT Defined for English Language Learners

contact

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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

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verb

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

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

contact

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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

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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

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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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Definition of contact for English Language Learners

contact

Definition of contact for English Language Learners

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Definition of contact for Students

Medical Dictionary

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