Definition

1. Noun:

   • A binding, formal agreement between two or more parties: A "contract" is a legally enforceable document or promise that outlines specific rights and obligations for those involved.
   • The document itself that records such an agreement: The physical or digital record of the agreed terms.
   • (In card games, especially bridge) The number of tricks a player or team commits to win: The specific bid that sets the goal for a hand.

2. Verb:

   • To enter into a formal, binding agreement: To make a contract.
   • To become smaller or tighter; to shrink: To decrease in size, volume, or scope.
   • To acquire or develop something, typically something undesirable: To catch or become affected by, such as a disease or debt.
   • To shorten a word or phrase by omitting letters or sounds: To form a contraction in grammar.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • They signed a five-year contract for the supply of materials.
  • The player's contract with the team expires next season.
  • His bid became the contract, requiring him to take eight tricks.

• Verb:

  • The company contracted a local firm to handle the construction.
  • Metal contracts as it cools.
  • He contracted a rare virus while traveling.
  • The words "do not" can be contracted to "don't".

Advanced Usage

• "To contract out": To arrange for work to be done by an external party rather than by one's own employees.

  • The city council decided to contract out the waste management services.

• "Under contract": Legally bound by the terms of a contract.

  • The actress is under contract with the studio for three more films.

• "Breach of contract": The failure to fulfill the terms of a contract without a legal excuse.

  • The supplier's failure to deliver was a clear breach of contract.

Variants and Related Words

• Contraction (n): The process of becoming smaller; a shortened form of a word or group of words.

  • The contraction of the economy led to job losses.
  • "Isn't" is a contraction of "is not".

• Contractual (adj): Relating to or part of a contract.

  • They have a contractual obligation to complete the work on time.

• Contractor (n): A person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor.

  • They hired a general contractor to manage the home renovation.

Synonyms

• Noun: Agreement, pact, deal, commitment, covenant.
• Verb (to shrink): Shrink, compress, condense, constrict.
• Verb (to acquire): Catch, develop, incur, get.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Contract in: To formally agree to participate in a scheme or arrangement.

  • Employees must contract in to the new pension plan.

• Contract out (of): To formally agree not to participate in something, especially a statutory scheme.

  • He chose to contract out of the state pension system.

Related Idioms

• A contract on someone: A formal agreement to have someone killed (slang).

  • The gangster allegedly put a contract on the informant's life.

• To have your work cut out (for you): To face a very difficult task. (Note: This idiom uses "out" but is distantly related to the idea of a contracted task).

  • With this tight deadline, we really have our work cut out for us.

Noun

1. a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid
2. (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make
3. a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law

Verb

1. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
   • The manuscript must be shortened
2. make or become more narrow or restricted
   • The selection was narrowed
   • The road narrowed
3. compress or concentrate
   • Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan
4. make smaller
   • The heat contracted the woollen garment
5. become smaller or draw together
   • The fabric shrank
   • The balloon shrank
6. be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
   • He got AIDS
   • She came down with pneumonia
   • She took a chill
7. squeeze or press together
   • she compressed her lips
   • the spasm contracted the muscle
8. engage by written agreement
   • They signed two new pitchers for the next season
9. enter into a contractual arrangement