contact

[ kon-takt ]

/ ˈkɒn tækt /

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See synonyms for: contact / contacted / contacting / contacts 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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

usage note for contact

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM contact

con·tac·tu·al

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

un·con·tact·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use contact in a sentence

When we kept pressing, she got angry and told us to stop contacting her.
Live updates: Georgia secretary of state issues correction, saying certification of its general election results is still under way|John Wagner, Colby Itkowitz, Michelle Lee|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Privacy concerns about similar-sounding — but actually very different — contact-tracing apps have needlessly scared people away.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
An executive at Thermo Fisher Scientific, one of the nation’s leading PCR test providers, contacted Hogan’s office the same week that the state sent its letter of intent to South Korea.
Hogan’s first batch of coronavirus tests from South Korea were flawed, never used|Steve Thompson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
It turns out he lied to contact tracers, and had worked at the restaurant and been in close contact with another infected worker for several shifts.
A pizza shop worker lied to contract tracers—prompting unfounded fears of a new COVID-19 strain|kdunn6|November 20, 2020|Fortune

Transit officials said Metro’s Office of Occupational Health and Wellness made notifications to workers who had been in close contact with the employee.
Metro board approves budget cuts, buyouts as pandemic dents agency’s budget|Justin George|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
“I heard Jeffrey was interested in supporting science and I contacted him,” Krauss said.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Basically, I was contacted and asked if an appeal could be opened on my behalf,” she told me from her home in Providence.
The Insurance Company Promised a Gender Reassignment. Then They Made a Mistake.|James Joiner|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Daily Beast contacted an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, who said it “does not comment on foreign reports.”
Israel Sends Warning to Assad, Russia and Iran With Damascus Airstrikes|Creede Newton|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a 2008 interview, Obama left unclear whether he, then a state senator, contacted Rezko or Rezko contacted him about Whitaker.
Obama’s Golf Buddy May Be a ‘Hostile Witness’ in Chicago Corruption Case|Ben Jacobs|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“There has been no day since this started that I have not been contacted by [Cosby accusers],” Allred said.
Two New Bill Cosby Accusers Come Forward: ‘We Challenge Mr. Cosby to End This Nightmare’|Marlow Stern|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Landy had contacted Ike Steele only a day or two ago and Ike's story of the wagon trade unfolded the plot.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
There he contacted another former resident in the person of Archie Barrow.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
He contacted Morey and told him that the radio would be cut off for a short while.
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
He contacted the authors, and the name Beriah was substituted for the offending Eschol.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
Moreover, Ned could get no more information, when he finally contacted the freighter, than her commander had given already.
Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope|Victor Appleton

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 forms of contact

contactual (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

Scientific 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

Origin of contact

usage note for contact

OTHER WORDS FROM contact

Words related to contact

How to use contact in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contact

Derived forms of contact

Word Origin for contact

Scientific definitions for contact