contract

The definition of a contract is an agreement between two or more people to do something.

(noun)

Contract is defined as to acquire something or to hire someone to do work.

(verb)

See contract in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an agreement between two or more people to do something, esp. one formally set forth in writing and enforceable by law; compact; covenant
a formal agreement of marriage or betrothal
a document containing the terms of a contract
the branch of law having to do with contracts
☆ Informal an assignment to murder someone for pay
Bridge
1. the highest bid in an auction
2. the number of tricks, and the suit or no-trump preference, stated in such a bid
3. contract bridge

Origin: OFr < L contractus, pp. of contrahere, to draw together, make a bargain < com-, together + trahere, to draw

transitive verb

1. to enter upon, or undertake, by contract
2. to hire (a person, business, etc.) to perform under contract: we contracted him to fix the roof
to get, acquire, or incur: to contract a disease, a debt, etc.
1. to reduce in size; draw together; narrow; shrink; shorten: cold contracts metals
2. to draw (the brow or brows) together; knit
to narrow in scope; restrict
Rare to betroth
Gram. to shorten (a word or phrase) by the omission of a letter or sound, as in I'm, e'er, can't

intransitive verb

Related Forms:

See contract in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law. See Synonyms at bargain.
b. The writing or document containing such an agreement.
The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties.
Marriage as a formal agreement; betrothal.
Games
a. The last and highest bid of a suit in one hand in bridge.
b. The number of tricks thus bid.
c. Contract bridge.
A paid assignment to murder someone: put out a contract on the mobster's life.

verb (kən-trăktˈ, kŏnˈtrăktˌ) con·tract·ed, con·tract·ing, con·tracts

verb, transitive

To enter into by contract; establish or settle by formal agreement: contract a marriage.
To acquire or incur: contract obligations; contract a serious illness.
a. To reduce in size by drawing together; shrink.
b. To pull together; wrinkle.
Grammar To shorten (a word or words) by omitting or combining some of the letters or sounds, as do not to don't.

verb, intransitive

To enter into or make an agreement: contract for garbage collection.
To become reduced in size by or as if by being drawn together: The pupils of the patient's eyes contracted.

Phrasal Verb: contract out To engage a person outside an organization by contract to undertake or produce.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Latin contractus

Origin: , past participle of contrahere, to draw together, make a contract

Origin: : com-, com-

Origin: + trahere, to draw

Related Forms: