contact
the act or state of touching; a touching or meeting, as of two things or people.
immediate proximity or association.
an acquaintance, colleague, or relative through whom a person can gain access to information, favors, influential people, and the like.
Electricity. a junction of electric conductors, usually metal, that controls current flow, often completing or interrupting a circuit.
Geology. the interface, generally a planar surface, between strata that differ in lithology or age.
Medicine/Medical. a person who has lately been exposed to an infected person.
Sociology. a condition in which two or more individuals or groups are placed in communication with each other.: Compare categoric contact, primary contact, secondary contact, sympathetic contact.
to put or bring into contact.
to communicate with: We'll contact you by mail or telephone.
to enter into or be in contact.
involving or produced by touching or proximity: contact allergy.
Origin of contact
1usage note For contact
Other words from contact
- con·tac·tu·al [kon-tak-choo-uhl], /kɒnˈtæk tʃu əl/, adjective
- con·tac·tu·al·ly, adverb
- non·con·tact, noun, adjective
- re·con·tact, noun, verb
- un·con·tact·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use contact in a sentence
It was simply a matter of translating the contactual evidence into an equivalent idea-system.
Breaking Point | James E. Gunn
British Dictionary definitions for contact
the act or state of touching physically
the state or fact of close association or communication (esp in the phrases in contact, make contact)
a junction of two or more electrical conductors
the part of the conductors that makes the junction
the part of an electrical device to which such connections are made
an acquaintance, esp one who might be useful in business, as a means of introduction, etc
any person who has been exposed to a contagious disease
photog See contact print
(usually plural) an informal name for contact lens
(modifier) of or relating to irritation or inflammation of the skin caused by touching the causative agent: contact dermatitis
(modifier) denoting an insecticide or herbicide that kills on contact, rather than after ingestion or absorption
(modifier) of or maintaining contact
(modifier) requiring or involving (physical) contact: the contact sport of boxing
(when intr, often foll by with) to put, come, or be in association, touch, or communication
aeronautics (formerly) a call made by the pilot to indicate that an aircraft's ignition is switched on and that the engine is ready for starting by swinging the propeller
Origin of contact
1Derived forms of contact
- contactual (kɒnˈtæktjʊəl), adjective
- contactually, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for contact
[ kŏn′tăkt′ ]
A connection between two conductors that allows an electric current to flow.
A part or device that makes or breaks a connection in an electrical circuit.
Geology The place where two different types of rock, or rocks of different ages, come together.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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