contractest

Verb

contract (third-person singular simple present contracts, present participle contracting, simple past and past participle contracted)

1. (ambitransitive) To draw together or nearer; to shorten, narrow, or lessen.
   • The snail’s body contracted into its shell.

   Synonyms:

   abate, decrease, lessen, reduce, shorten, shrink

2. To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.
   • The word “cannot” is often contracted into “can’t”.
3. (intransitive) To make an agreement or contract; to covenant.
   • The company contracted with the council to build 200 new houses.
4. (transitive) To enter into a contract with (someone or something).
   • We have just contracted new pest control services.
5. (archaic, transitive) To enter into (an agreement) with mutual obligations; to make (an arrangement).
   • We have contracted an inviolable amitie, peace, and league with the aforesaid Queene.1589, Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, […], London: […] George Bishop and Ralph Newberie, deputies to Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC
6. (transitive) To bring on; to incur; to acquire.
   • She contracted the habit of smoking in her teens.

See all 18 meanings of contract