contract
noun [ C ] uk/ˈkɒn.trækt/ us/ˈkɑːn.trækt/
B1 合同;契约
a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself
a contract of employment 雇用合同
a temporary/building contract 临时／建筑合同
They could take legal action against you if you break (the terms of) the contract. 如果你违反合同（条款），他们可以起诉你。
My solicitor is drawing up (= writing) a contract. 我的律师正在起草一份合同。
Don't sign/enter into any contract before examining its conditions carefully. 仔细核查合同条款之前，不要签定任何合同。
[ + to infinitive ] They're the firm of architects who won the contract to design the Museum of Fine Art extension. 他们就是赢得国家美术馆扩建工程设计合同的那家建筑公司。
be under contract 签订合同（为某公司或某人工作）;有合同约束
to have formally agreed to work for a company or person on a stated job for a stated period of time
They used independent miners who worked under contract with the mining companies.
She currently has three books under contract.
He isn't under contract to the film studio, so he may not work on the next movie.
The team announced that Little will remain under contract for the rest of the season.
Ticketing is handled by a private company under contract to the council.
- More examples
- The contract between the two companies will expire at the end of the year.
- They will only agree to sign the contract if certain conditions are met.
- I'm on a temporary contract and have little financial security .
- Under the terms of their contract, employees must give three months' notice if they leave.
- Her firm have just won a cleaning contract worth £3 million.
contract
verb uk/kənˈtrækt/ us/kənˈtrækt/
(BECOME SMALLER)
[ I or T ]（使）收缩；（使）缩小；（使）缩短
to make or become shorter or narrower or generally smaller in size
In spoken English, "do not" often contracts to "don't". 在英语口语中，do not 常常缩略成 don't。
As it cooled, the metal contracted. 金属冷却后收缩了。
[ I ]（使）收缩，缩小
to become smaller in amount or quantity
A recession is a period when the economy is contracting. 经济衰退期是指经济萎缩的一个时期。
Agricultural output has contracted by 2.3 percent. 农业产量下降了百分之二点三。
(BECOME ILL)
C2 [ T ] formal患上，感染（疾病）
to catch or become ill with a disease
He contracted malaria while he was travelling. 他旅行时染上了疟疾。
(AGREEMENT)
C2 [ I or T ]（与…）订立合同;（与…）订契约
to make a legal agreement with someone to do work or to have work done for you
[ + to infinitive ] Our company was contracted to build shelters for the homeless. 我们公司刚刚签订合同，为无家可归的人建造收容所。
Phrasal verbs
contract in/out 签约加入（退出）;同意加入（退出）
to formally agree to take part/stop taking part in an official plan or system
Have you contracted in to the pension scheme? 你参加养老金计划了吗？
contract something out 订合同把…承包出去，合同外包
to formally arrange for other people to do a particular job
The government contracted out hospital cleaning to private companies. 政府将医院的清洁工作承包给了私营公司。