词典释义：
/'kɒntrækt/ a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law
（尤指雇用、销售或租赁）合同，契约
-
the company retained its ￡25 million catering contract 该公司保住了它价值２,５００万英镑的饮食供应合同
-
[mass noun]
much of the produce is grown under contract .许多农产品是根据合同种植的。
[mass noun]the branch of law concerned with the making and observation of such agreements
合同法，契约法。
〈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
-
[as modifier]
a contract killer .雇佣杀手。
【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。
〈旧〉 婚约。
[no obj.]decrease in size, number, or range
收缩；缩小；缩短；缩紧
-
glass contracts as it cools .玻璃遇冷收缩。
(of a muscle)become shorter and tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body
（肌肉）收缩
-
the heart is a muscle which contracts about seventy times a minute 心脏是一种每分钟收缩约７０次的肌肉
-
[with obj.]
the exercises contract the muscles working through the knee .这种锻炼收缩膝盖牵引的肌肉。
[with obj.]shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision
缩约（词，短语）。
[no obj.]enter into a formal and legally binding agreement
订立合同，订契约
-
the local authority will contract with a wide range of agencies to provide services .地方当局将与各种代理机构签约以提供服务。
(
〈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。
(
〈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。
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。
[with obj. 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。
[with obj.](
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。
[with obj.]
〈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。
[with obj.]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。
[with obj.]catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent)
染上；感染；得（病）
-
three people contracted a killer virus .三个人感染了一种致命的病毒。
[with obj.]become liable to pay (a debt)
负（债）
-
he contracted a debt of ￡3,300 .他负债３，３００英镑。
"Middle English： via Old French from Latin
