contact

[ kon-takt ]

/ ˈkɒn tækt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contact ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

contact lens.

verb (used with object)

to put or bring into contact.

to communicate with: We'll contact you by mail or telephone.

verb (used without object)

to enter into or be in contact.

adjective

involving or produced by touching or proximity: contact allergy.

Nearby words

consumption weed, consumptive, consumptively, cont., cont. rem., contact, contact allergy, contact binary, contact cement, contact centre, contact cheilitis

Origin of contact

1620–30; < Latin contāctus a touching, equivalent to contāc- < *contag-, variant stem of contingere to touch (con- con- + -tingere, combining form of tangere to touch) + -tus suffix of v. action; cf. tango, attain

Related forms

con·tac·tu·al

[kon-tak-choo-uh l] /kɒnˈtæk tʃu əl/, adjectivecon·tac·tu·al·ly, adverbnon·con·tact, noun, adjectivere·con·tact, noun, verb

un·con·tact·ed, adjective

Usage note

Many verbs in English have derived from nouns. One can head an organization or toe the mark; butter the bread or bread the cutlet. Hence, grammatically at least, there is no historical justification for the once frequently heard criticism of contact used as a verb meaning “to communicate with”: The managing editor contacted each reporter personally. Despite the earlier objections to it and probably largely because there is no other one-word verb in the language to express the same idea, this use of contact has become standard in all types of speech and writing. Contact as a noun meaning “a person through whom one can gain access to information and the like” is also standard: My contact at the embassy says that the coup has been successful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contact

The spokesman also said that Ambassador King “did not view the movie and did not have any contact directly with Sony.”
Exclusive: Sony Emails Say Studio Exec Picked Kim Jong-Un as the Villain of ‘The Interview’|William Boot|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, he was in contact with Lansky prior to converging from the hillside onto the streets of Havana.
Will Hyman Roth Return to Havana With Normalized Relations?|John L. Smith|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She had been my point of contact as I was trying to get up there.
A Whisky Connoisseur Remembers That First Sip of The Macallan||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Keeping in contact with those people, and mechanically getting them to the trial, those are the hard parts,” Risner said.
Drug Smuggler Sues U.S. Over Dog Bite|Caitlin Dickson|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She said that she came in contact with Cosby while working at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Two New Bill Cosby Accusers Come Forward: ‘We Challenge Mr. Cosby to End This Nightmare’|Marlow Stern|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I will now jot hastily down the points of contact between one of these monasteries described by Philo and a Buddhist monastery.
The Influence of Buddhism on Primitive Christianity|Arthur Lillie
The case has been different with the movements induced by contact with Christian forms of belief.
Introduction to the History of Religions|Crawford Howell Toy
Varnish, when at a certain temperature, is susceptible of contraction when any colder body is brought in contact with it.
Practical Carriage and Wagon Painting|Mayton Clarence Hillick
For, in truth, she was unaware; lost to everything but the joy of contact with her son.
Far to Seek|Maud Diver
But he did not condemn them; he simply felt he could not live in contact with them.
Cleo The Magnificent|Louis Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for contact

contact

noun (ˈkɒntækt)

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 agentcontact 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) contactthe contact sport of boxing

verb (ˈkɒntækt, kənˈtækt)

(when intr, often foll by with) to put, come, or be in association, touch, or communication

interjection

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

Derived Formscontactual (kɒnˈtæktjʊəl), adjectivecontactually, adverb

Word Origin for contact

C17: from Latin contactus, from contingere to touch on all sides, pollute, from tangere to touch

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

Word Origin and History for contact (1 of 2)

contact

1620s, "action of touching," from Latin contactus "a touching," from past participle of contingere "to touch, seize," from com- "together" (see com-) + tangere "to touch" (see tangent).

Figurative sense of "connection, communication" is from 1818. As a signal to the person about to spin an aircraft propeller that the ignition is switched on, the word was in use by 1913. Contact lens is first recorded 1888; short form contact is from 1961.

Word Origin and History for contact (1 of 2)

contact

1834, "put in contact," from contact (n.). Meaning "get in touch with" is 1927, American English. Related: Contacted; contacting.

Medicine definitions for contact

contact

[ kŏn′tăkt′ ]

n.

A coming together or touching, as of bodies or surfaces.

A person recently exposed to a contagious disease, usually through close association with an infected individual.

v.

To bring, be, or come in contact.

adj.

Of, sustaining, or making contact.

Caused or transmitted by touching, as a rash.

Science definitions for contact

contact

[ kŏn′tăkt′ ]

Electricity

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.

contact

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of contact

Usage note

Examples from the Web for contact

British Dictionary definitions for contact

contact

noun (ˈkɒntækt)

verb (ˈkɒntækt, kənˈtækt)

interjection

Word Origin for contact

Word Origin and History for contact (1 of 2)

contact

Word Origin and History for contact (1 of 2)

contact

Medicine definitions for contact

contact

n.

v.

adj.

Science definitions for contact

contact