contract
/kənˈtɹækt/ verb C1- To draw together or nearer; to shorten, narrow, or lessen. · The snail’s body contracted into its shell.· to contract one’s sphere of action
- 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”.
- To make an agreement or contract; to covenant. · The company contracted with the council to build 200 new houses.
- To enter into a contract with (someone or something). · We have just contracted new pest control services.
- To bring on; to incur; to acquire. · She contracted the habit of smoking in her teens.· to contract a debt
- To gain or acquire (an illness).
- To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
- To betroth; to affiance.
He/she/it contracts · Past contracted · Past participle contracted · -ing form contracting
Verb forms
- Base form
- contract
- He/she/it
- contracts
- Past
- contracted
- Past participle
- contracted
- -ing form
- contracting
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
“But,” asked Danglars, in a timid tone, “how did you manage about the other formalities—the contract—the settlement?”
“The contract,” answered Dantès, laughingly, “it didn’t take long to fix that.
“So we have contracted our field of search to a large book, printed in double columns and in common use.”
A LION roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance, saying that of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, since the one was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean.
Other matches
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