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| con·tract [ kón tràkt ] |
noun (plural con·tracts) |
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| Definition: |
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1. formal agreement: a formal or legally binding agreement, e.g. one for the sale of property, or one setting out terms of employment
  Such actions would be in breach of contract.
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2. document recording agreement: a document that records a formal or legally binding agreement
sign a contract
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3. agreement to marry: a formal agreement to marry
(
dated
)
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4. paid assassin's assignment: a hiring of an assassin to kill somebody
(
informal
)
a contract killing
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5. highest bridge bid in one hand: in bridge, a winning bid in a single hand, in which partners agree regarding the number of tricks they can take
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6. number and suit of contract: in bridge, the number and suit of the tricks agreed on by the highest bidders
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7. bridge
Same as contract bridge
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verb (past and past participle con·tract·ed, present participle con·tract·ing, 3rd person present singular con·tracts) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb shrink or lessen: to shrink or become smaller, or make something shrink or become smaller
metals expanding and contracting as temperatures change
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2. transitive and intransitive verb tighten or draw together: to become tighter or draw together, or make something tighter or draw something together
see the muscles contracting under the skin
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3. transitive verb formally or legally agree to do something: to make a formal or legally binding agreement with somebody to do something, especially work
(
often passive
)
I'm not contracted to work on Sundays.
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4. transitive verb get illness: to catch or develop an illness or disease
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5. transitive verb shorten word or phrase: to shorten a word by leaving out letters or syllables, or a phrase by leaving out words
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6. transitive verb arrange marriage: to arrange a marriage formally
(
dated
)
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| [14th century. Directly or via French< Latin contractus, past participle of contrahere "draw together" < trahere "to draw"] |
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