noun
    
    plural -tracts
    
    [count] a legal agreement between people, companies, etc.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    a document on which the words of a contract are written
    
    
    
    
    
    informal :an agreement to kill a person for money
    
    
    
    by contract
    
    according to the terms stated in a contract :by a legal agreement
    
    
    
    under contract
    
    required to provide something (such as work or a service) according to the terms stated in a contract
    
    
    
    verb
    
    -tracts; -tracted; -tracting
    
    [+ obj] :to make (something) smaller or shorter
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to become smaller
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] somewhat formal :to become ill with (a disease)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to make an agreement by contract to work or to pay someone to work [no obj]
    
    
    
    
    
    /ˈkɑːnˌtrækt/ [+ obj] formal :to agree to (a marriage, an alliance, etc.) formally
    
    
    
    
    
    contract out
    
    /ˈkɑːnˌtrækt/ [phrasal verb]
    
    contract (something) out or contract out (something) :to agree by contract to pay someone to perform (a job)