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contract
[ noun adjective verb kon-trakt; verb kuhn-trakt ]
noun
- an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified.
- an agreement enforceable by law.
- the written form of an agreement enforceable by law.
- the division of law dealing with contracts.
- 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.
- (in auction or contract bridge)
- a commitment by the declarer and their partner to take six tricks plus the number specified by the final bid made.
- the final bid that specifies the number of tricks to which players must commit.
- the number of tricks to which players are committed, plus six.
- the formal agreement of marriage; betrothal.
- Slang. an arrangement for a hired assassin to kill a specific person.
adjective
- under an agreement enforceable by law; governed or arranged by special legal agreement:
As a contract carrier with us, you'll have access to more loads than with any other provider in North America.
verb (used with object)
- to draw together; make shorter, thinner, narrower, etc.:
In order to contract a muscle, the opposite muscle group has to be relaxed.
Synonyms: , , , , ,
Antonyms:
- to shorten (a word, phrase, etc.) by combining or omitting some of its elements:
Contracting “do not” yields “don't.”
- to get or acquire, as by exposure to something contagious:
I contracted malaria but didn't recognize the symptoms at first.
- to incur, as a liability or obligation:
He was very extravagant at college, and contracted many debts.
- to settle or establish by agreement:
Bismarck contracted an alliance with Austria to counteract Russian designs in Eastern Europe.
- to assign (a job, work, project, etc.) by contract:
The publisher contracted the artwork.
- to enter into an agreement with:
We contracted a freelancer to do the editing.
- to enter into (friendship, acquaintance, etc.).
- to betroth.
- to wrinkle:
to contract the brows.
verb (used without object)
- to become reduced in length, width, thickness, etc., by drawing together; become smaller:
The pupils of his eyes contracted in the light.
- to enter into an agreement:
We contracted to have the books printed and bound by Willow Press.
verb phrase
- to hire an outside contractor to produce or do.
contract
verb
- to make or become smaller, narrower, shorter, etc
metals contract as the temperature is reduced
- ˈɒԳٰæ whenintr, sometimes foll by for; when tr, may take an infinitive to enter into an agreement with (a person, company, etc) to deliver (goods or services) or to do (something) on mutually agreed and binding terms, often in writing
- to draw or be drawn together; coalesce or cause to coalesce
- tr to acquire, incur, or become affected by (a disease, liability, debt, etc)
- tr to shorten (a word or phrase) by the omission of letters or syllables, usually indicated in writing by an apostrophe
- phonetics to unite (two vowels) or (of two vowels) to be united within a word or at a word boundary so that a new long vowel or diphthong is formed
- tr to wrinkle or draw together (the brow or a muscle)
- tr to arrange (a marriage) for; betroth
noun
- a formal agreement between two or more parties
- a document that states the terms of such an agreement
- the branch of law treating of contracts
- marriage considered as a formal agreement
- See contract bridge
- bridge
- (in the bidding sequence before play) the highest bid, which determines trumps and the number of tricks one side must try to make
- the number and suit of these tricks
- slang.
- a criminal agreement to kill a particular person in return for an agreed sum of money
- ( as modifier )
a contract killing
contract
- A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.
Derived Forms
- Dzˈٰپ, adjective
- Dzˈٰپ, adverb
Other 51Թ Forms
- Dz·ٰ· [kon-trak-, tee], noun
- Dz·ٰ·· adjective
- Dz·ٰ····ٲ [k, uh, n-trak-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], Dz·ٰ···ness noun
- Dz·ٰ·· adverb
- ԴDz·Dz·ٰ adjective
- ··Dz·ٰ verb (used with object)
- Dz·Dz·ٰ noun
- ·Dz·ٰ verb (used with object)
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of contract1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of contract1
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
The next steps in the rebuilding effort include contracting architects and engineers, Carvalho said.
Strikes and collective bargaining were not permitted, and the union's primary purpose was to fuel the Nazi war economy, which was largely contracted out to private industry.
Given the years-long staffing shortage, he said, deputies should not be diverted away from contract cities to staff specialized teams such as the Mental Evaluation Team.
“We already have a signed contract with the federal government for that money. And we’ve been told it’s being clawed back.”
Adams Kellum sent a letter to the court outlining reforms by her agency to improve financial and contract oversight.
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Related 51Թs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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