A contract is a legally enforceable agreement made either orally or in writing between two or more parties creating an obligation to do or not to do a particular thing. A contract can be formed by orally agreeing to do something, signing an agreement, or by performing your part of the agreement. Some contracts are required to be in writing to be enforceable.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
contract (noun)1.
a) a binding agreement between two or more persons or parties , especially one legally enforceable
b) a business arrangement for the supply of goods or services at a fixed price - make parts on contract
c) the act of marriage or an agreement to marry
2.
a document describing the terms of a contract
3.
the final bid to win a specified number of tricks in bridge
4.
an order or arrangement for a hired assassin to kill someone - his enemies put out a contract on him
transitive verb
1.
a) to bring on oneself especially inadvertently - incur contracting debts
b) to become affected with - contract pneumonia
2.
a) to establish or undertake by contract - contract a job
b) - betroth , also to establish (a marriage) formally
c) (1) to hire by contract - contract a lawyer
(2) to purchase (as goods or services) on a contract basis - often used with out
3.
a) - limit restrict contract the scope of their activities
b) - knit wrinkle frown contracted his brow
c) to draw together - concentrate
4.
to reduce to smaller size by or as if by squeezing or forcing together - contract a muscle
5.
intransitive verb
to shorten (as a word) by omitting one or more sounds or letters
1.
to make a contract
2.
to draw together so as to become diminished in size - metal contracts on cooling , also to become less in compass, duration, or length - muscle contracts in tetanus
hired to execute a contract - a contract worker a contract killer
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
contract (noun)1.
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
SYNONYMS:
bond, contract, covenant, deal, guaranty, surety, warrantyRELATED WORDS:
oath, pledge, troth, vow, word; accord, bargain, compact, concordat, convention, pact, treaty; assurance, insurance, seal; bail, deposit, pawn, security2.
an arrangement about action to be taken
SYNONYMS:
accord, bargain, compact, contract, convention, covenant, deal, disposition, pact, settlement, understandingRELATED WORDS:
charter, treaty; binder, pledge, promise; alliance, association, entente, entente cordiale, league, partnership; acceptance, approval, assent, concurrence, consent, OK ( okay)1.
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
SYNONYMS:
catch, come down (with), get, go down (with), sicken (with), takeRELATED WORDS:
break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsenNEAR ANTONYMS:
come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back; rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)2.
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
SYNONYMS:
compress, condense, constrict, shrinkRELATED WORDS:
collapse, deflate, flatten; dry up, shrivel, wilt, wither; abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen; recede, retreat, withdrawNEAR ANTONYMS:
accumulate, grow, increase; balloon, inflate, puff (up)3.
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
SYNONYMS:
capsule, capsulize, collapse, compact, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescopeRELATED WORDS:
cram, crowd, jam, jam-pack, pack; abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; boil down, downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; simplify, streamline; decrease, diminish, lessenNEAR ANTONYMS:
dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter; distend, inflate, swell4.
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
SYNONYMS:
bargain, contract, covenantRELATED WORDS:
come around, come round; subscribe, underwrite; arrange, settleNEAR ANTONYMS:
differ, dissent; cancel, renege, revoke; argue, contest, dispute, object