Definitions for contract
n., adj., and usu. for v. 16–18, 22, 23 ˈkɒn trækt; otherwise v. kənˈtræktcon·tract

Princeton's WordNet(2.11 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. contract(noun)

   a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law

2. contract, declaration(noun)

   (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make

3. contract, contract bridge(verb)

   a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid

4. contract, undertake(verb)

   enter into a contractual arrangement

5. sign, contract, sign on, sign up(verb)

   engage by written agreement

   "They signed two new pitchers for the next season"

6. compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press(verb)

   squeeze or press together

   "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"

7. contract, take, get(verb)

   be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness

   "He got AIDS"; "She came down with pneumonia"; "She took a chill"

8. shrink, contract(verb)

   become smaller or draw together

   "The fabric shrank"; "The balloon shrank"

9. contract(verb)

   make smaller

   "The heat contracted the woollen garment"

10. condense, concentrate, contract(verb)

    compress or concentrate

    "Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan"

11. narrow, contract(verb)

    make or become more narrow or restricted

    "The selection was narrowed"; "The road narrowed"

12. abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduce(verb)

    reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

    "The manuscript must be shortened"

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contract(noun)

   to draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action

2. Contract(noun)

   to draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit

3. Contract(noun)

   to bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease

4. Contract(noun)

   to enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for

5. Contract(noun)

   to betroth; to affiance

6. Contract(noun)

   to shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one

7. Contract(verb)

   to be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; as, iron contracts in cooling; a rope contracts when wet

8. Contract(verb)

   to make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; as, to contract for carrying the mail

9. Contract(adj)

   contracted; as, a contract verb

10. Contract(adj)

    contracted; affianced; betrothed

11. Contract(noun)

    the agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of legal rights

12. Contract(noun)

    a formal writing which contains the agreement of parties, with the terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation

13. Contract(noun)

    the act of formally betrothing a man and woman

Origin: [L. contractus, p. p.]

Freebase(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contract

   A contract is an agreement having a lawful object entered into voluntarily by two or more parties, each of whom intends to create one or more legal obligations between them. The elements of a contract are "offer" and "acceptance" by "competent persons" having legal capacity who exchange "consideration" to create "mutuality of obligation." Proof of some or all of these elements may be done in writing, though contracts may be made entirely orally or by conduct. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" in the form of compensation of money or specific performance enforced through an injunction. Both of these remedies award the party at loss the "benefit of the bargain" or expectation damages, which are greater than mere reliance damages, as in promissory estoppel. The parties may be natural persons or juristic persons. A contract is a legally enforceable promise or undertaking that something will or will not occur. The word promise can be used as a legal synonym for contract, although care is required as a promise may not have the full standing of a contract, as when it is an agreement without consideration. Contract law varies greatly from one jurisdiction to another, including differences in common law compared to civil law, the impact of received law, particularly from England in common law countries, and of law codified in regional legislation. Regarding Australian Contract Law for example, there are 40 relevant acts which impact on the interpretation of contract at the Commonwealth level, and an additional 26 acts at the level of the state of NSW. In addition there are 6 international instruments or conventions which are applicable for international dealings, such as the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contract

   kon-trakt′, v.t. to draw together: to lessen: to shorten: to acquire: to incur: to bargain for: to betroth.—v.i. to shrink: to become less.—n. Con′tract, an agreement on fixed terms: a bond: a betrothment: the writing containing an agreement.—adj. Contract′ed, drawn together: narrow: mean.—adv. Contract′edly.—ns. Contract′edness; Contractibil′ity, Contract′ibleness.—adjs. Contract′ible, capable of being contracted; Contract′ile, tending or having power to contract.—ns. Contractil′ity; Contrac′tion, act of contracting: a word shortened by rejecting a part of it: a symbol for shortening in palæography, &c.—adj. Contract′ive, tending to contract.—n. Contract′or, one of the parties to a bargain or agreement: one who engages to execute work or furnish supplies at a fixed rate.—adj. Contract′ual.—Contract one's self out of, to get rid of some general obligation by making a special contract; Contract work, work done for a fixed sum estimated beforehand and paid down for the whole job. [L. contractus—con, together, trahĕre, to draw.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contract' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #867

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contract' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1156

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contract' in Nouns Frequency: #249

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contract' in Verbs Frequency: #822

How to pronounce contract?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say contract in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of contract in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of contract in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of contract in a Sentence

1. Montel Vontavious Porter:

   No contract, no contact

2. Brian Molefe:

   A contract is a contract.

3. Cindy Shelton:

   It’s just part of their contract.

4. Vanna Bonta:

   A poet's first contract is with truth.

5. Robert Jensen:

   For airlines: no contract, no response.

Images & Illustrations of contract

Popularity rank by frequency of use