contract

contract

I

con‧tract¹ S1 W1 AC /ˈkɒntrækt $ ˈkɑːn-/ noun [countable]1. an official agreement between two or more people, stating what each will do ⇨ contractual
    contract with/between
    Tyler has agreed a seven-year contract with a Hollywood studio.
    contract to do something
    a three-year contract to provide pay telephones at local restaurants
    on a contract/under contract
    The firm operates schools under contract to state education authorities.
    Employees who refuse to relocate are in breach of contract (=have done something not allowed by their contracts).
2. subject to contract if an agreement is subject to contract, it has not yet been agreed formally by a contract
3. informal an agreement to kill a person for money:
    They put a contract out on him and he’s in hiding.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ have a contract The company had a contract to build a new hotel there.
   ▪ sign a contract He signed a contract to become vice president of the football club.
   ▪ enter (into) a contract You will enter a two-year training contract with your chosen employer.
   ▪ agree to a contract (also agree a contract British English) Keane was reported to have agreed a contract for a further three years.
   ▪ make a contract Did he know this when he made the contract?
   ▪ negotiate a contract (=agree the conditions of a contract with someone) Your lawyer will assist you in negotiating a contract.
   ▪ break a contract (=do something that your contract does not allow) She broke her contract and left the job after only six months.
   ▪ fulfil/honour a contract (=do what you have agreed to do) If you have signed a contract, you have to fulfil it.
   ▪ draw up a contract (=write one) The two sides drew up a contract.
   ▪ win/get a contract They won a contract to supply 37 passenger trains to Regional Railways.
   ▪ give somebody a contract He was given a new two-year contract in March.
   ▪ award a company a contract (=give them a contract) The state of Kentucky has awarded the firm a $10m contract.
   ▪ cancel/end/terminate a contract The buyer has three days in which to cancel the contract.
   ▪ renew sb’s contract (=give someone another contract when their old one ends) I hope they will renew my contract at the end of the year.
■ adjectives
   ▪ a one-year/two-year etc contract He signed a five-year contract worth $2 million.
   ▪ a recording/building etc contract The band was soon offered a recording contract with Columbia Records.
   ▪ a written contract All employees should have a written contract.
■ phrases
   ▪ a contract of employment (also an employment contract) Make sure you fully understand your contract of employment.
   ▪ the terms of a contract (=the conditions that are part of the contract) He explained the terms of the contract.
   ▪ breach of contract (=an action that your contract does not allow) They are suing the building company for breach of contract.
   ▪ be in breach of contract (=have done something that your contract does not allow)

II

con‧tract² AC /kənˈtrækt/ verb1. [intransitive] to become smaller or narrower
   OPP  expand:
    Metal contracts as it cools.
    The economy has contracted by 2.5% since last year.
2. [transitive] formal to get an illness
   SYN  catch:
    Two-thirds of the adult population there have contracted AIDS.
3. [intransitive and transitive] to sign a contract in which you agree formally that you will do something or someone will do something for you
    contract (somebody) to do something
    They are contracted to work 35 hours a week.
    the company that had been contracted to build the models
    contract (with) somebody for something
    Doctors control their budgets and contract with hospitals for services.
    contract a marriage/alliance etc (=agree to marry someone, form a relationship with them etc)
    Most of the marriages were contracted when the brides were very young.

III

contract³ /ˈkɒntrækt $ ˈkɑːn-/
     
contract in phrasal verb British English
  1. contract somebody/something ↔ in to arrange for a person or company outside your own organization to come in and do a particular job:
    We contract in cleaning services.
  2. formal to agree officially to take part in something:
    The rules require all members to contract in.
contract out phrasal verb
  1. contract something ↔ out to arrange to have a job done by a person or company outside your own organization
    contract something ↔ out to
    We contracted the catering out to an outside firm.
  2. British English to agree officially not to take part in something such as a pension plan