contract

n.

contract

v.

1. To diminish

   shrink, condense, constrict, draw in, draw back, shrivel, weaken, be reduced in compass, become smaller, be drawn together, deflate, decline, fall away, abate, subside, grow less, ebb, wane, wrinkle, knit, lessen, lose, dwindle, consume, recede, fall off, wither, waste, evaporate; see also decrease 1.

   Antonyms stretch*, expand*, strengthen. *

2. To cause to diminish

   compress, condense, abbreviate, abridge, epitomize, edit, omit, narrow, confine; see also compress, decrease 2.

3. To enter into an agreement by contract

   covenant, pact, pledge, promise, undertake, come to terms, adjust, negotiate, negotiate a contract, bargain, strike a bargain, agree, settle, limit, bound, reach an agreement, reach an understanding, settle by covenant, engage, stipulate, consent, enter into a contractual obligation, sign the papers, accept an offer, obligate oneself, work out the details, put something in writing, swear to, sign for, assent, give one's word, initial, close, shake hands on it*, get together*; see also negotiate 1, promise 1.

4. To catch; said of diseases

   get, incur, become infected with; see catch 4.

5. To become obligated by; said especially of debts

   become indebted, take on, obligate oneself; see owe.

contract implies a drawing together of surface or parts and a resultant decrease in size, bulk, or extent cold contracts metals; to shrink is to contract so as to be short of the original or normal length, amount, extent, etc. those shirts have shrunk; shrinking profits; condense suggests reduction of something into a more compact or more dense form without loss of essential content condensed milk; to compress is to press or squeeze into a more compact, orderly form a lifetime's work compressed into one volume; deflate implies a reduction in size or bulk by the removal of air, gas, or in extended use, anything insubstantial to deflate a balloon, to deflate one's ego