/n., adj., and usually for v. 15–17, 21, 22ˈkɒntrækt;otherwise v. kənˈtrækt/Show Spelled[n., adj., and usually for v. 15–17, 21, 22kon-trakt;otherwise v. kuhn-trakt]Show IPA
noun
1.
an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified.
2.
an agreement enforceable by law.
3.
the written form of such an agreement.
4.
the division of law dealing with contracts.
5.
Also called contract bridge. a variety of bridge in which the side that wins the bid can earn toward game only that number of tricks named in the contract, additional points being credited above the line. Compare auction bridge.
to become drawn together or reduced in compass; become smaller; shrink: The pupils of his eyes contracted in the light.
21.
to enter into an agreement: to contract for snow removal.
Verb phrase
22.
contract out, to hire an outside contractor to produce or do.
Idiom
23.
put out a contract on, Slang. to hire or attempt to hire an assassin to kill (someone): The mob put out a contract on the informer.
Origin: 1275–1325; (noun) Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin contractus undertaking a transaction, agreement, equivalent to contrac-, variant stem of contrahere to draw in, bring together, enter into an agreement (con-con- + trahere to drag, pull; compare traction) + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) < Latin contractus, past participle of contrahere
Synonyms 1.See agreement.10. reduce, shorten, lessen, narrow, shrivel, shrink. Contract,compress,concentrate,condense imply retaining original content but reducing the amount of space occupied. Contract means to cause to draw more closely together: to contract a muscle. Compress suggests fusing to become smaller by means of fairly uniform external pressure: to compress gases into liquid form. Concentrate implies causing to gather around a point: to concentrate troops near an objective; to concentrate one's strength. Condense implies increasing the compactness, or thickening the consistency of a homogeneous mass: to condense milk. It is also used to refer to the reducing in length of a book or the like.
Compare auction bridge the most common variety of bridge, in which the declarer receives points counting towards game and rubber only for tricks he bids as well as makes, any overtricks receiving bonus points