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contact Definition

con·tact (kän′takt′; for v., occas. kən takt′)

noun

  1. the act or state of touching or meeting two surfaces in contact
  2. the state or fact of being in touch, communication, or association (with) to come into contact with new ideas
  3. ☆
    1. an acquaintance, esp. one who is influential
    2. a connection with such a person his contacts at city hall
  4. Elec.
    1. a connection or point of connection between two conductors in a circuit
    2. a device for opening and closing such a connection
  5. Med. a person who may have caught a disease from an infected person
  6. contact lens: usually used in pl.

Etymology: L contactus, pp. of contingere, to touch, seize < com-, together + tangere, to touch: see tact

transitive verb

  1. to place in contact
  2. to come into contact with
  3. ☆ to get in touch or communication with

intransitive verb

to be in or come into contact

adjective

of, involving, or relating to contact

adverb

by means of contact flying

contact Synonyms

contact

n.

touch, junction, connection, association; see communication 1, meeting 1.

contact Synonyms

contact

v.

speak to, reach, get in touch with; see communicate 2, talk 1.

contact Usage Examples

Object

  • office: If you are local to the area then you can benefit from joining our regular weekly club sailing - contact the office.
  • administrator: For more information, please contact the postgraduate administrator.
  • organizer: For further information, please contact the conference organizers.
  • editor: To find out more about topics for future issues, contact the Editor, Andrea Rayner.

Converse of object

  • please: For further details please contact Jimmy Deane on 01225 325 200.
  • maintain: John sends his respects to all members and regrets that he is unable to maintain a closer contact because of his problems.
  • make: Do not make eye contact, or speak to him.

Adjective modifier

  • further: For further information contact John Taylor by Friday, 8 October 2004.
  • direct: The IBE works by making a direct contact at the senior level of a firm Foster Back says.
  • regular: They will make regular contact to ensure things are running smoothly.
  • close: We keep in close contact with our past students, who often come back to see us.
  • more: For more information contact a member of the St Enoch Center Management Team.
  • initial: Initial contact can be made by telephone or letter.

Modifies a noun

  • detail: Contact details for our regional agents are provided below.
  • lens: I was trying to pick up my contact lenses without using my hands.
  • dermatitis: In fact, some people who used Vitamin E oil developed a contact dermatitis over.. .
  • telephone: Please also include your name, address and a contact telephone number.
  • address: Any notice to be provided to you shall be addressed to the contact email address provided by you within your registration form.

Noun used with modifier

  • information: For further information contact John Taylor by Friday, 8 October 2004.
  • eye: Eye contact Wash with copious amounts of warm water.
contact Quotes

O born in days when wits were fresh and clear, And life ran gaily as the sparklingThames: Before this strange disease of modern life, With its sick hurry, its divided aims, Its heads o'ertaxed, its palsied hearts, was rifeö Fly hence, our contact fear!

—Arnold, Matthew

The detective novel is†the classic example of a specialized form of art removed from contact with the life it pretends to build on.

—Pritchett, Sir V(ictor) S(awdon)

The response is to the image, not to the man, since 99 percent of the voters have no contact with the man.

—Price, Raymond