n.

1. a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
2. (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make;
   declaration
3. a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid;
   contract bridge

v.

1. enter into a contractual arrangement;
   undertake
2. engage by written agreement;
   sign, sign on, sign up
   
   • They signed two new pitchers for the next season
3. squeeze or press together;
   compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, press
   
   • she compressed her lips
   • the spasm contracted the muscle
4. become smaller or draw together;
   shrink
   
   • The fabric shrank
   • The balloon shrank
5. be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness;
   take, get
   
   • He got AIDS
   • She came down with pneumonia
   • She took a chill
6. make smaller
   
   • The heat contracted the woollen garment
7. compress or concentrate;
   condense, concentrate
   
   • Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan
8. make or become more narrow or restricted;
   narrow
   
   • The selection was narrowed
   • The road narrowed
9. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements;
   abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, reduce
   
   • The manuscript must be shortened