[con.tract] n [ME, fr. L contractus, fr. contrahere to draw together, make a contract, reduce in size, fr. com- + trahere to draw] (14c) 1 a: a binding agreement between two or more persons or parties; esp: one legally enforceable b: a business arrangement for the supply of goods or services at a fixed price "make parts on ~" c: the act of marriage or an agreement to marry
2: a document describing the terms of a contract
3: the final bid to win a specified number of tricks in bridge
4: an order or arrangement for a hired assassin to kill someone
[2]con.tract vb [ME, fr. MF or L; MF contracter to agree upon, fr. L contractus] vt (14c) 1 a: to bring on oneself esp. inadvertently: incur "~ing debts" b: to become affected with "~ pneumonia"
2. a: to establish or undertake by contract b: betroth; also: to establish (a marriage) formally c (1): to hire by contract (2): to purchase (as goods or services) on a contract basis--often used with out 3 a: limit, restrict b: knit, wrinkle "frown ~ed his brow" c: to draw together: concentrate
4: to reduce to smaller size by or as if by squeezing or forcing together
5: to shorten (as a word) by omitting one or more sounds or letters ~ vi 1: to make a contract
2: to draw together so as to become diminished in size "metal ~s on cooling"; also: to become less in compass, duration, or length "muscle ~s in tetanus" -- con.tract.ibil.i.ty n -- con.tract.ible adj syn contract, shrink, condense, compress, constrict, deflate mean to decrease in bulk or volume. contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length "caused her muscles to contract". shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions "the sweater will shrink when washed". condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content "condense the essay into a paragraph". compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usu. against resistance "compressed cotton into bales". constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter "the throat is constricted by a tight collar". deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas "deflate the balloon".