Definitions
1.verbTo draw together or nearer; to shorten, narrow, or lessen."The snail's body contracted into its shell."
2.verb(grammar) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one."The word "cannot" is often contracted into "can't"."
3.verbTo enter into a contract with.
4.verbTo enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.
5.verbTo make an agreement or contract; to covenant; to agree; to bargain."to contract for carrying the mail"
6.verbTo bring on; to incur; to acquire."She contracted the habit of smoking in her teens."
7.verbTo gain or acquire (an illness).
8.verbTo draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
9.verbTo betroth; to affiance.
10.nounThe act of something that contracts or shrinks; contraction."the contractings of his muscles"
11.nounWork done on a contract basis.
12.adjectiveGetting smaller; drawing itself together into a smaller area.