contract

¹con·tract

noun \ˈkän-ˌtrakt\

Definition of CONTRACT

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>

Examples of CONTRACT

1. The contract requires him to finish work by the end of the year.
2. I tore up the contract.
3. Have you signed the contract yet?

Origin of CONTRACT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin contractus, from contrahere to draw together, make a contract, reduce in size, from com- + trahere to draw

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONTRACT

Synonyms: bond, guarantee, covenant, deal, guaranty, surety, warranty

Related Words: oath, pledge, troth, vow, word; accord, bargain, compact, concordat, convention, pact, treaty; assurance, insurance, seal; bail, deposit, pawn, security

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Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

Rhymes with CONTRACT

abstract, attract, class act, compact, contact, crookbacked, detract, didact, diffract, distract, enact, entr'acte, epact, exact, extract, humpbacked, hunchbacked, impact, infract, intact, mossbacked, playact, protract, react, redact, refract, retract, sex act, subtract, swaybacked, transact, unbacked