WordWeb Online

1. A binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
    
2. (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make
   - declaration
    
3. A variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid
   - contract bridge

1. Enter into a contractual arrangement
   - undertake
    
2. Engage by written agreement
   "They contracted two new pitchers for the next season";
   - sign, sign on, sign up
    
3. Bring together or compress
   "the spasm contracted the muscle";
   - compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, press
    
4. Be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
   "She contracted a chill";
   - take, get
    
5. Become smaller or draw together
   "The fabric contracted";
   - shrink
    
6. Make smaller
   "The heat contracted the woollen garment"
    
7. Compress or concentrate
   "Congress contracted the three-year plan into a six-month plan";
   - condense, concentrate
    
8. Make or become more narrow or restricted
   "The selection was contracted";
   - narrow, neck
    
9. Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
   "The manuscript must be contracted";
   - abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, reduce

1. A contract preceding another

1. To contract, engage, or stipulate previously
    
2. To make a previous contract or agreement

Derived forms: pre-contracting, pre-contracts, pre-contracted

See also: specialise [Brit]

Type of: alter, assure, bid, bidding, bridge, change, come down, decrease, diminish, employ, engage, fall, hire, lessen, minify, modify, promise, reduce, shrink, sicken, tighten, written agreement

Antonym: stretch, widen

Part of: bridge

Encyclopedia: Contract