n.[C]

1. 契约；合同
   I was then under contract to a bus company.

   那时候我按合同为一家公共汽车公司工作。

2. 契约书；合约书
3. （桥牌）合约
4. 婚约

vt.

1. 缔结；订（约）[（+with）]
   The two businesses contracted a merger.

   两家商行签约合并了。

2. 承包，承办[（+to）]
3. 使订婚约[（+to）]
4. 得（病）；沾染（习惯）；负（债）
   I contracted a cold.

   我得了感冒。

5. 使缩小；使收缩

vi.

1. 订契约[（+with）]
   We contracted with a Japanese firm for the purchase of electronic instruments.

   我们与一家日本公司签约购买电子仪器。

2. 承包，承办[（+to）]
3. 缩小；收缩
   Metals contract in cold weather.

   金属在寒冷的天气里收缩。

n.

1. a written or spoken agreement intended to be enforceable by law.
2. informal an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin.
3. Bridge  the declarer's undertaking to win the number of tricks bid with a stated suit as trumps.

v.

1. decrease in size, number, or range.
   ▸(of a muscle) become shorter and tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body.
   ▸shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision.
2. enter into a formal and legally binding agreement.
   ▸ (contract in/into) Brit. choose to be involved in.
   ▸ (contract out) Brit. choose to withdraw from or not become involved in.
   ▸ (contract something out) arrange for work to be done by another organization.
3. catch or develop (a disease).
4. become liable to pay (a debt).