contact
noun
con·tact
| \ ˈkän-ˌtakt
\
\
Definition of contact
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: union or junction of surfaces
Cooling begins when the lava makes contact with the air.
b
: the apparent touching or mutual tangency of the limbs of two celestial bodies or of the disk of one body with the shadow of another during an eclipse, transit, or occultation
c(1)
: the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes
(2)
: a special part made for such a junction
The camera's flash wasn't working because the electrical contacts needed to be cleaned.
2a
: association, relationship
students and teachers in daily contact
b
: connection, communication
I lost contact with her years ago.
c
: an establishing of communication with someone or an observing or receiving of a significant signal from a person or object
radar contact with Mars
3
: a person serving as a go-between, messenger, connection, or source of special information
business contacts
4
: contact lens
She wears contacts more often than glasses.
contact
verb
con·tact
| \ ˈkän-ˌtakt
, kən-ˈtakt\
, kən-ˈtakt\
contacted;
contacting;
contacts
Definition of contact (Entry 2 of 3)
: to make contact
the point at which the two surfaces contact
1
: to bring into contact
2a
: to enter or be in contact with : join
The spark contacted the gunpowder.
b
: to get in communication with
Contact your local dealer.
contact
adjective
con·tact
| \ ˈkän-ˌtakt
\
\
Definition of contact (Entry 3 of 3)
: maintaining, involving, or activated or caused by contact
contact poisons contact sports contact dermatitis
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Synonyms for contact
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
address, communicate (with), get, reach
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Examples of contact in a Sentence
Noun
Physical contact between a mother and child is very important. a disease that is spread by sexual contact Contacts between the two leaders have been frequent in recent weeks. I applied for a job at that law firm because I have a contact there.Verb
For more information, contact the city's tourism office. We were able to contact them by radio. She contacted everyone on the list.Adjective
Ice hockey is a contact sport.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Simon was put in contact with the environmentalists after visiting Hoolawa Farms in Haiku to view a rare kanaloa plant, one of only two in existence. — Washington Post, "Paul Simon plants a tree at Hawaii forest preserve on Maui," 19 Aug. 2019 Thousands of ducks died after coming in contact with its wastewater ponds in the 1950s. — Dan Elliott, The Denver Post, "Heavily polluted U.S. weapons sites — including Rocky Flats and Rocky Mountain Arsenal — are now home to wildlife," 18 Aug. 2019 Engage in activities that will bring you in contact with like-minded people. — Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, "Horoscopes: Aug. 17, 2019," 17 Aug. 2019 After getting in contact with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Grammer and the South African group worked together to create the song Kathy wanted Louisiana to hear. — Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE.com, "Andy Grammer Honors His Late Mother with New Music Video Starring His 2-Year-Old Daughter," 16 Aug. 2019 Someone in close contact could be seen in a very flattering light and bring out your desire to join forces. — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive.com, "Horoscope for Aug. 14, 2019: Happy birthday Steve Martin; Capricorn, restrictions ease," 14 Aug. 2019 Nearly everyone — four out of five — will come in contact with HPV in their lifetime. — Laura Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Texas ranks near bottom for children vaccinated against HPV," 14 Aug. 2019 After that, then he’ll be declared to participate in contact. — Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan CB Ambry Thomas out indefinitely as he recovers from colitis," 13 Aug. 2019 With the advent of the digital age, the Internet revolutionized the ability to put them in contact with one another, replacing airport bulletin boards with a website. — Mike Lee And Jon Riches, Twin Cities, "Lee, Riches: The FAA needs to let flight-sharing take off," 12 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Brown said that before the deputy went to the house, both the alarm company and 911 dispatchers tried to contact the homeowner, but were unable to. — NBC News, "Graphic body-camera video shows South Carolina deputy shoot man inside his own home," 30 July 2019 Mueller himself did try to contact Trump for an interview for more than a year, but the president always refused. — Christian Holub, EW.com, "Late-night hosts react to Robert Mueller's congressional testimony," 25 July 2019 Shegerian remained uncooperative with police but days later, on April 12, 2013, a police detective, Ryan Peters, contacted her parents. — Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, "Ex-wife says she was ‘terrified’ of her husband, who is accused of kidnapping, torture and mutilation," 25 July 2019 When a forum attendee expressed concern with fire hazards caused by debris behind the condominiums on Nickel Creek Drive, Long said Garcia can contact the property owner and request a cleanup. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "County staff share guidelines for cleaning creek," 25 July 2019 Any affected passengers will be contacted by the airline and will be offered a refund or can be rebooked through LaGuardia or MacArthur Airport on Long Island. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, "Southwest Airlines Will No Longer Fly Out of Newark Due to 737 Max Grounding," 25 July 2019 Marie Claire has contacted Marcus Hyde for comment. — Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, "Ariana Grande Spoke Out After a Celebrity Photographer Pressured a Model for Nudes," 23 July 2019 There's also another message for anyone else who is trying to contact him. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "Murray Bauman's Phone Number in "Stranger Things" Season 3 Gives a Huge Season 4 Clue," 16 July 2019 Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. — Duane Rankin, azcentral, "Top 5 NBA duos: No. 1 Lakers' James-Davis, Nets' Durant-Irving, Clippers' Leonard-George?," 22 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Contact neighborhoods reporter Ruth Serven at ruth.serven@indystar.com. — Ruth Serven, Indianapolis Star, "Indy tightens rules to force landlords to clean up trashy houses, but realty agents say it won't matter," 10 July 2017 Sunday brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact 847-549-1972 or www.austinssaloon.com. — Shonda Talerico Dudlicek, Lake County News-Sun, "Libertyville's Austin Saloon adapts with owners' life changes," 20 June 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contact.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.