Contract meaning

What does “contract” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“contract” is a noun and verb with 12 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law.

contract

noun

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

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

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

verb

  1. enter into a contractual arrangement

    Synonymsundertake
  2. engage by written agreement

    “They signed two new pitchers for the next season”

  3. squeeze or press together

    “she compressed her lips”

    “the spasm contracted the muscle”

  4. be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness

    “He got AIDS”

    “She came down with pneumonia”

    Synonymstakeget
  5. become smaller or draw together

    “The fabric shrank”

    “The balloon shrank”

    Synonymsshrink
    Oppositesexpand
  6. make smaller

    “The heat contracted the woollen garment”

  7. compress or concentrate

    “Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan”

  8. make or become more narrow or restricted

    “The selection was narrowed”

    “The road narrowed”

    Synonymsnarrow
  9. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

    “The manuscript must be shortened”

    Oppositesexpand

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University