n. 25B6; noun a legally binding contract : AGREEMENT, commitment, arrangement, settlement, understanding, compact, covenant, bond; deal, bargain; Law indenture.
25B6; verb
the market for such goods began to contract : SHRINK, get smaller, decrease, diminish, reduce, dwindle, decline.
her stomach muscles contracted : TIGHTEN, tense, flex, constrict, draw in, narrow.
she contracted her brow : WRINKLE, knit, crease, purse, pucker.
his name was soon contracted to Jack : SHORTEN, abbreviate, cut, reduce; elide.
the company contracted to rebuild the stadium : UNDERTAKE, pledge, promise, covenant, commit oneself, engage, agree, enter an agreement, make a deal.
she contracted German measles : DEVELOP, catch, get, pick up, come down with, be struck down by, be stricken with, succumb to; Brit. go down with.
he contracted a debt of £3,300 : INCUR, run up.
expand, relax, lengthen.
25A0; contract something out SUBCONTRACT, outsource, farm out.