a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
"They signed the contract to secure the construction company's services for the new office building."
(contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make
"After bidding five spades, Sarah became nervous because she knew her team had just signed a contract requiring them to win at least six tricks."
a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid
"After studying the rules, I realized that playing contract bridge meant scoring points solely based on the number of tricks we promised to take."
An agreement between two or more parties, to perform a specific job or work order, often temporary or of fixed duration and usually governed by a written agreement.
"The construction crew was hired on a six-month contract to finish the renovation before winter arrived."
In plain English: A contract is an agreement where two people promise to do something for each other and are legally required to keep their promises.
"They signed a contract to build the new house."
Usage: Use "contract" as a noun to describe a formal agreement between parties that outlines specific duties, typically for a set period. Ensure it is distinguished from the verb form, which means to shrink or reduce in size.
compress or concentrate
"Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan"
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
"The manuscript must be shortened"
To draw together or nearer; to shorten, narrow, or lessen.
"The severe cold caused his fingers to contract and turn blue within minutes."
In plain English: To contract is to make something smaller or weaker, like when you catch a cold and your body fights off an illness.
"The construction company will contract with the city to build the new hospital."
Usage: Use "contract" to describe something physically shrinking or becoming smaller, such as metal contracting in cold weather. Do not use it to mean signing an agreement, which requires the noun form "contract."
Contracted; affianced; betrothed.
"After months of dating, they finally decided to contract in June and plan their wedding ceremony for the autumn."
In plain English: A contract adjective describes something that is made or formed by an agreement between people.
"The old contract had some small errors in it."
Usage: Do not use "contract" as an adjective to mean engaged or betrothed; instead, reserve it strictly for describing something that has been reduced in size or scope. The correct term for a person who is affianced is "engaged," while "contracted" only applies to physical shrinking or formal agreements.
The word "contract" comes from the Latin contrahere, which literally means "to bring together." It entered English through Middle English and Old French with this original sense of drawing things into agreement.