contract
Legally binding agreement
An official agreement between people or groups that the law says must be followed.
sign [a/an] contract
- The company offered her a one-year contract.
- He refused to sign the contract without reading it first.
- Under the contract, they must deliver the goods by June.
- The contract clearly states the payment schedule.
- I signed a contract for a new job.
- The contract is for two years.
- We have a contract with the school.
- She read the contract before signing it.
To make a legal agreement
To agree to do work or provide something by signing an official paper.
to contract [someone] to [do something]
- The firm has been contracted to build the bridge.
- They contracted with a supplier for raw materials.
- She was contracted to write three articles per month.
- The school contracted a builder to fix the roof.
- We contracted with a company for cleaning.
- They contracted him to paint the house.
To shrink or tighten
To make something smaller or shorter, or to become smaller or shorter.
[something] contracts
- Metals contract as they cool.
- Her pupils contracted in the bright light.
- The material contracts when it dries.
- The metal contracts when it is cold.
- My muscles contract when I move.
- The plastic will contract after washing.
To catch an illness
To get a disease or illness.
contract [a disease]
- He contracted malaria while traveling abroad.
- The virus can be contracted through contaminated water.
- She contracted pneumonia during the winter.
- He contracted a bad illness on holiday.
- She contracted flu last year.
- They contracted malaria in Africa.
- Base: contract
- Plural: contracts
- Base: contract
- 3rd Person Singular: contracts
- Present Participle: contracting
- Past: contracted
contract out
1Hire outside company for work
To pay another company to do work instead of doing it yourself.
- They decided to contract out their IT support.
- The cleaning is contracted out to a local firm.
enter into a contract
1Begin legal agreement formally
To start an official legal agreement with someone.
- Both parties entered into a contract last month.
- We will enter into a contract once terms are agreed.
sign a contract
1Sign legal agreement document
To write your name on an official paper to agree to it.
- We signed the contract yesterday afternoon.
- He refused to sign the contract without changes.
under contract
1Currently bound by contract
Having a legal agreement that you must follow at this time.
- She is under contract with the studio for two more films.
- The player is still under contract until next season.
breach of contract
1Failure to follow contract terms
When someone does not do what they agreed to do in a contract.
- The company sued for breach of contract after the supplier failed to deliver.
- Breach of contract can result in legal action.
breach of contract
2Failure to follow contract terms
When someone does not do what the contract says they must do.
- The company sued him for breach of contract.
- Failing to deliver on time is a breach of contract.