Contract
Binding written deal
A contract is a binding agreement between parties, especially one enforceable by law: They signed a contract for the house.
The word extends to any firm commitment: a social contract, a contract with voters.
To contract is to enter such an agreement, but also to shrink or tighten—muscles contract, pupils contract, economies contract.
You can contract a disease by catching it.
These meanings connect through the idea of drawing together: parties drawn into obligation, materials drawn into smaller space.
Shared position between parties
- clauseProvision in agreement
- breachBreaking of agreement
- termsConditions of an agreement
- bindingLegally or morally required
signature · parties · negotiation · stipulation · arbitration · covenant · provision · enforceable
Reduce volume by force
- tightenMake more secure
- shrivelContract from dryness
- constrictTo squeeze tightly
- reduceMake smaller in degree
narrow · condense · retract · deflate · withdraw · diminish · shorten · squeeze
Seize or snag
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- illnessState of poor health
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
contagious · transmit · exposure · susceptible · pathogen · affliction · fever · ailment
Take on for work
- salaryFixed periodic employment payment
- tenureProtected employment status
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- gigShort-term paid work
temporary · probation · severance · benefits · noncompete · renewal · fixed-term · consultant
Involuntary muscle contraction
twitch · seize · charley horse · involuntary · convulse · strain · knot · stiffen
Offer to purchase
- builderOne who erects structures
- tenderSoft or sore
- renovationRestoring to good condition
- specificationsStated requirements and parameters
milestone · completion · penalty · bonding · scope · deliverable · timeline · cost-plus
agreement
Shared position between parties
binding · signature · parties · negotiation · stipulation · arbitration · covenant · provision · enforceable · obligation
compress
Reduce volume by force
reduce · narrow · condense · retract · deflate · withdraw · diminish · shorten · squeeze · compact
catch
Seize or snag
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- illnessState of poor health
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
virus · contagious · transmit · exposure · susceptible · pathogen · affliction · fever · ailment · communicable
hire
Take on for work
- salaryFixed periodic employment payment
- tenureProtected employment status
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
gig · temporary · probation · severance · benefits · noncompete · renewal · fixed-term · consultant · retainer
spasm
Involuntary muscle contraction
clench · twitch · seize · charley horse · involuntary · convulse · strain · knot · stiffen · Braxton Hicks
bid
Offer to purchase
- builderOne who erects structures
- tenderSoft or sore
- renovationRestoring to good condition
specifications · milestone · completion · penalty · bonding · scope · deliverable · timeline · cost-plus · fixed-price
Contractgentleman's agreement
Informal pact based on trust
verbal agreement · oral agreement · handshake deal · tacit understanding · implied agreement
Contractrelease
To let go
discharge · termination · cancellation · dissolution · annulment
- verbal contractSpoken, unwritten binding promise
- defense contractorsMilitary weapons manufacturers
- union contractBinding pact between workers and management
- military contractsGovernment deals for weapons
- civilian contractorsNonmilitary workers hired by government
- general contractorsConstruction project coordinators
contracts, contracted, contracting, contractor, contractors, contraction, contractions, contractual, contractually