contact
//ˈkɑntækt//
Forms
- Plural
- contacts
- present (v1)
- contact
- past (v2)
- contacted
- past participle (v3)
- contacted
- present participle
- contacting
- 3rd person singular
- contacts
Definitions
1.The act of touching physically; being in close association.
- She mixed furniture with the same fatal profligacy as she mixed drinks, and this outrageous contact between things which were intended by Nature to be kept poles apart gave her an inexpressible thrill.
2.The establishment of communication (with).
- I haven't been in contact with her for years.
- When written information is unavailable and archeological findings are subject to conflicting interpretations, language data frequently provide the only evidence for prehistoric ethnic and cultural contacts.
3.A nodule designed to connect a device with something else.
- Touch the contact to ground and read the number again.
4.The situation of being within sight of something; visual contact.
1.To establish communication with (something or someone).
- I am trying to contact my sister.
2.To touch; to come into physical contact with.
- The side of the car contacted the pedestrian.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1608
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Latin contactus, from contingō (“to touch on all sides”), from tangō (“to touch”).
Used in English since the 17th century.