1A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.

许多农产品是根据合同种植的。

1. 1.1mass noun The branch of law concerned with the making and observation of contracts.
   合同法，契约法
   the law of contract

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Most of these cases would today be regarded as falling under the law of contract, not tort.
   • The validity of the contracts and of the acts done was governed entirely by the law of contract, not by the statutes.
   • Omitting to do so may lead to civil liability in contract, tort, equity, or restitution.
   • The English law of contract is not subject to any such abject paternalism.
   • That relationship is governed by the ordinary rules of the law of contract.
2. 1.2informal An arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin.
   〈非正式〉（雇用刺客的）暗杀协议
   smuggling bosses routinely put out contracts on witnesses

   走私头目像往常一样雇用刺客谋杀证人。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • There had been speculation that the couple, or a relative, had been on a witness protection scheme and that the shooting was a contract killing.
   • During the meeting, Hodson claimed he was offered a contract to kill an alleged amphetamine trafficker.
   • Let us not forget that we are dealing with the alleged contract murder of a young naturopathic doctor, a crime that shocked the nation.
   • Police have not ruled out robbery as a motive for the murder, but suspect it could have been a revenge murder or a contract killing disguised as a robbery.
   • When he can't succeed in killing himself, he hires a contract killer to carry out the job for him.
   • The murder of a father-of-two, who was shot dead outside his Virginia Water home, could have been the victim of a contract killing, according to police.
   • He could claim that while creating and producing hit game shows, he was also a contract assassin for the CIA.
   • When his boss becomes suspicious, the three decide to hire a contract killer, played by Adam Faith.
   • Whether it was a random killing, a settling of old accounts or a political contract killing remains unclear.
   • Then a solution presents itself: why not hire a contract killer?
   • Smith is accused by the Crown of being a contract killer, responsible for four other planned murders over the past 34 years.
   • For example, a serial killer and a contract killer both kill lots of people, but the crimes are essentially different.
   • There are so many people with contracts out on his life he has to look over his shoulder all the time.
   • The film, a story of a contract killer fighting his conscience more often than his bullet-laden opponents, makes some brave new noises.
   • The Hit Man's first step onto the slippery slope had been taking a contract to kill a gangster.
   • A jury could reject entirely your client's statements and say all of the evidence is consistent with his being involved in the contract killing.
   • Vincent is a ruthless contract killer and has to kill five people in a single night.
   • The third tale speaks of El Chivo, a bitter ex-guerrilla-turned-hit man, who is given a contract to kill a wealthy businessman.
   • It was to have been a straight-forward contract killing arranged by an adulterous couple to rid them of the man's wife.
   • A British woman who tried to arrange the contract killing of her husband was jailed for five years on Wednesday.
   • He had been offered $50,000 to carry out the hit, and was jailed for life for the contract killing.
3. 1.3Bridge The declarer's undertaking to win the number of tricks bid with a stated suit as trumps.
   〔桥牌〕定约；定约墩数
   South can make the contract with correct play

   坐在南首的人可以制定无错玩法。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • When bidding a contract with a minor suit as trumps, the suit is not mentioned.
   • Beginning with the player to dealer's left, each player may pass or bid a contract.
   • If the contract is set, he doesn't make the bid, then his opponent scores a mark.
   • After a contract on the bid is made, the declarer decides whether to set the rank for that hand high or low.
   • The team that won the auction but did not make enough tricks to make the contract gets the score of the lower scoring team.
4. 1.4dated A formal agreement to marry.
   〈旧〉婚约
   the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed

   Example sentencesExamples

   • After this outburst, the Emperor applied to be released from his contract to wed the Princess Mary, who was still an infant.
   • It was only 3 years later, September 29, 1662, that Catherine and Jean Durand signed a contract to be married.
   • The contract of betrothal is made at the village temple and the caste-fellows sprinkle turmeric and water over the parties.
   • A contract of marriage may be made through agents acting ad hoc on behalf of the bride and bridegroom themselves, or of their guardians.
   • They both meet each other and make a contract to marry.

1no object Decrease in size, number, or range.

玻璃遇冷收缩。

1. 1.1 (of a muscle) become shorter and tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body.
   （肌肉）收缩
   the heart contracts about seventy times a minute

   心脏是一种每分钟收缩约70次的肌肉。

   with object exhale and slowly contract your abdominal muscles

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Spasms shook every inch of my skin, and my muscles contracted painfully.
   • You are not lifting weights; you are stretching and then contracting your muscles as hard as possible.
   • When people laugh, their muscles contract, their pulse rates rise and their breathing is faster.
   • As your muscles contract during exercise, they use sugar for energy.
   • When these muscles contract, they don't directly push the head forward.
   • When your heart contracts, it ejects blood from the pumping chambers (ventricles).
   • For example, as an individual lands from a jump, the quadriceps muscle contracts, protecting the knee.
   • The heart works as a pump, with its muscular walls contracting to force the movement of blood.
   • This stimulation causes electrical activity in the muscle, which in turn causes the muscle to contract or tighten.
   • The more slowly muscles contract, the more force they are able to deliver, which is why heavy weights can only be lifted slowly.
   • Between meals, a mammal's intestinal muscles normally contract rhythmically to sweep out bacteria and waste.
   • He then contracted his abs to raise his legs until they were perpendicular.
   • The treated muscles can't contract so new wrinkles won't form either.
   • Each time the calf and thigh muscles contract when walking, veins deep inside the leg are squeezed.
   • Electrical stimulation causes the heart muscles to contract or pump.
   • To see closer objects, this muscle contracts to thicken the lens.
   • Breath-holding helps create a firm base upon which the muscles can effectively contract.
   • It increases the heart rate, makes muscles contract more forcefully and enhances the general state of alertness.
   • Raise your hips only as high as you can while still forcefully contracting your abs for a second or two.
   • Mucus production increases and the muscles surrounding the airways contract, narrowing the space through which air can flow.

   Synonyms

   tighten, become/make tighter, tense, flex, constrict, draw in, become/make narrower, narrow

   wrinkle, knit, crease, corrugate

   purse, pucker
2. 1.2with object Shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision.
   缩约（词，短语）
   these sources were called quasistellar objects, which was soon contracted to quasar

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The various sources consulted differ in its further evolution; some say the word was contracted further to aan't, others say an't (pronounced ahnt).
   • Incidentally, Hocus Pocus was itself contracted during the eighteenth century into the word ‘Hoax.’
   • This is someone who is so expert on the subject of sex that the two words become contracted into one - sexpert.
   • I haven't checked the audio to see whether ‘is’ was contracted or not in those examples.

   Synonyms

   shorten, abbreviate, cut, reduce, abridge, truncate

2no object Enter into a formal and legally binding agreement.

地方当局将与各种代理机构签约以提供服务。

1. 2.1contract in/intoBritish Choose to be involved in (a scheme)
   〈英〉参与计划；承担义务
   politically committed members contract into paying the levy

   政党成员有义务缴纳征收费用。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The new changes serve to increase flexibility and pastoral support for students contracted into the scheme.
2. 2.2contract outBritish Choose to withdraw from or not become involved in a scheme.
   〈英〉退出协议；退出计划；不承担义务
   plans to encourage people to contract out of the pension scheme

   鼓励人们退出养老金计划的办法。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • About six million people were encouraged to contract out of the state scheme by the carrot of generous contracting out rebates.
   • They gave us tax relief on the money going in, and they took my National Insurance Contributions, while encouraging pension schemes to contract out of Serps.
   • About 15m people have contracted out, most of them in the 1980s and 1990s.
   • It would be possible to contract out into approved occupational schemes.
   • If you're not in a company scheme but have contracted out in the past, you should receive annual statements from the pension or insurance company that invests your NIC rebates.
   • In the meantime, the clear advice to everyone is that the current level of rebates is too low to justify contracting out on financial grounds.
   • It also discourages people from saving and contracting out adds further to the complex tangle.
   • Independence does not mean contracting out of all relationships with others.
   • Since April 1978 it has been possible for you to contract out of Serps via a final salary scheme, and since April 1988 via a company money purchase scheme.

   Synonyms

   opt out, leave, exclude oneself, withdraw, pull out, exit
3. 2.3 Secure specified rights or undertake specified obligations in a formal and legally binding agreement.
   立约确保权利（或承担义务）
   a buyer may contract for the right to withhold payment

   顾客可以立约保留拒付的权利。

   with infinitive the paper had contracted to publish extracts from the diaries

   此文件约定出版日记摘录。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • If you contract for a simple change from a big vendor, you can be in for spending a lot of money.
   • In October 1986 the government introduced the Goods and Services Tax charged on almost everything you buy or contract for.
   • The committee has also made explicit provision for Transpower to contract for generation and to manage grid reliability.
   • They should also track their hotspot usage so that the company will know what to contract for when the market matures further.
   • It is always open to minority shareholders to contract for such representation.
   • Under such a system, film-makers form their own group to contract for a film production.
   • It must be possible for parties effectively to contract for the release of all and any claims, whether based on known facts or unknown facts.
   • The factory should be self contained and contract for, order and pay for all materials obtained locally.
   • The company wants to contract for as much technological capability as it can.
   • It does not receive the funding or the authority to contract for research at civilian universities that it needs.
   • More than one-half expect to contract for more services in the coming years.
   • Planning permission has already been obtained for the terminal and British Gas intends to contract for the use of 2.2 million tonnes a year of capacity.
   • I mean, it's just not on, it's not the real world, and when you contract for something you expect to pay that price, and you expect to get it on time.
   • Many large online travel agencies also may contract for a block of rooms at a special rate.
   • Physicians do not know how to contract for these technologies.
   • These policies should also stipulate that you own all rights to the software that you contract for development.
   • That is, you could contract for how many calls you would receive, and what kind of calls.
   • Probably the most important part of this bill is the provision for the Electricity Commission to contract for reserve electricity.
   • Sanctions on a country could affect its ability to contract for concessional lending.
   • Is it possible to contract for profit with poor people without being labeled an exploiter?

   Synonyms

   undertake, pledge, promise, covenant, commit oneself, engage
4. 2.4with object and infinitive Impose an obligation on (someone) to do something by means of a formal agreement.
   立约雇用
   health authorities contract a hospital to treat a specific number of patients

   卫生机构约定一家医院收治一定数量的病人。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • He is officially contracted to work for the company for another 12 months - although few observers expect him to serve out the full year.
   • She was contracted to work in a garment factory in the United Arab Emirates.
   • She was contracted to work 24 hours a week on a permanent basis.
   • In 1985 he was contracted to film crocodiles and dolphins in China, the beginning of an amazing career spanning nearly 20 years.
   • I contracted him in November to remove my windows and replace them with French-styled steel windows.
   • I forget what they called the deal, but he was contracted to produce something like 10 fairly low-budget features for MGM.
   • Channel Seven contracted an outside lawyer to work up a draft agreement and has refused to negotiate on anything falling outside its scope.
   • I am contracted to be here for a year - who knows what will happen after that?
   • The builders were contracted by Westlea Housing Association to build five houses on land behind Ashe Crescent.
   • Fourthly, for the medium term, a non-governmental organisation has been contracted to provide six intensive support rehabilitation beds.
   • Camp Henry contracted a wildlife biologist to study the property and create a land stewardship plan.
   • If a local authority contracts a builder to construct a certain amount of houses they must pay the full cost not just a deposit.
   • He was contracted to produce films of a certain length and that week, he handed in one that was more than double the agreed-upon running time.
   • In Swindon, there is a strong network provided by Trio Childcare, which is contracted by the council to advise and support childminders and parents.
   • He wanted something like that and contracted me to build it.
   • If the amount of cargo is greater than the hauling capacity of available military trucks, civilian trucks are contracted to complete the mission.
   • Drivers are contracted to work Monday to Saturday.
   • He complained about the wild dogs and the National Parks & Wildlife Service contracted a local man to trap and shoot the dogs.
   • In 1999 the Council contracted Bedminster to provide an alternative waste system.
   • The council later contracted another firm to complete the work, but at a cost of some €20m.
5. 2.5contract something outwith object Arrange for work to be done by another organization.
   协议把（工作）包出去；给人承包
   local authorities will have to contract out waste management

   地方当局将不得不把废物处理工程承包出去。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Some institutions contract the work out to casual labour with little continuity and stability for the student.
   • This may ultimately lead to farmers doing the job themselves rather than contracting it out.
   • Leaders must ensure that appropriate organizational expertise is retained as processes and programs are contracted out.
   • However, the police have chosen to contract the work out to the private sector rather than set up their own civilian-run scheme.
   • A bureau spokesman said the number of students attending evening adult education courses was declining before the services were contracted out.
   • Lancashire County Council funds road gritting by contracting it out to district councils.
   • The university proposed that current staff positions could be contracted out with four months' notice, a proposal which made the staff feel threatened.
   • Whether you're planning to tackle needed facility repairs in house or whether you're going to contract the work out, the first few steps may well determine the success of the final product.
   • You should budget for this part of the project to ensure that if you decide to contract the work out, the contractor makes provisions to handle the material in the manner that you planned.
   • Further, the government system requires that projects are contracted out by private enterprises by a bidding process.
   • They are employed by someone else and their services are contracted out.
   • An automated watering system was introduced around five years ago and the project was contracted out.
   • At my workplace, food and housekeeping services have been contracted out to subsidiaries of Compass Group, a British multinational corporation.
   • But there is a greater possibility that areas of the service such as prisoner escorts could be contracted out.
   • I thought the whole point was to contract these services out so the bidders would compete for the contracts using their own existing capital and thus keep the price down for the government, ultimately saving the taxpayers a bit of money.
   • The Corps of Engineers and Project Contracting Office program contracts the work out to local laborers, with the Corps of Engineers Gulf Region District overseeing the construction.
   • The government contracted out the accommodation of delegates to a private company, Turners.
   • Other courses have been contracted out to private suppliers.
   • But in future the work will be contracted out to shoe repair giant Timpsons, which has its own repair factories in Manchester and Luton.
   • This element of the project will be contracted out to an independent company who will carry out the fieldwork.

   Synonyms

   subcontract, outsource, farm out, assign to others
6. 2.6with object Formally enter into (a marriage)
   〈旧〉订（婚）
   kings obtained dispensations to enable them to contract politically advantageous matches

   国王们获取特许以便缔结有利的政治婚约。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The infatuated prince subsequently caused an international incident by contracting a bigamous marriage with her.
   • Louisbourg women usually contracted their first marriages at less than 20, a couple of years earlier than eighteenth-century Canadian women.
   • In the countryside, on the contrary, more hands were needed to work the fields in grain-growing regions, and males contracted marriages at younger ages to increase the rural labour supply.
   • Under English law, the minimum age for contracting a valid marriage is 16 for both men and women.
   • The queen's cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, married in a civil ceremony in Vienna, but no member of the royal family has ever contracted a civil marriage in Britain.
7. 2.7with object Enter into (a friendship or other relationship)
   结成（友谊等），结交
   the patterns of social relationships contracted by men and women differ

   男女进行社交的模式各不相同。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • How could Heidi have been aware that she was contracting marriage - the requirement for valid consent - if she thought that she was merely contracting an engagement?
   • To contract a friendship, I'll have to have an idea what I think is important in a friendship.
   • However, the ease with which a women can contract sexual liaisons does not directly translate into a socially sanctioned pregnancy and birth.

3with object Catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent)

三个人感染了一种致命的病毒。

4with object Become liable to pay (a debt)

他负债3，300英镑。