Usage note Expand

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.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
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Examples from the Web for contact Expand

She had been my point of contact as I was trying to get up there.

The two are not allowed to contact each other for the next two years, as she is considered his victim.

Your contact with the civilian population is very limited.

I had to draw the line so close to myself that I essentially gave up almost any contact with married men.

WHEN THE PANEL SELECTS NOMINEES TO BE POTENTIAL FINALISTS, IT WILL contact THE SELECTED NOMINEES.

It is terrible to see how demoralizing our contact is to all sorts and conditions of men.

They are contagious, not as cholera is contagious, but contact with others is essential to them.

Folkways William Graham Sumner

Its body must be sufficiently large to come in contact with the anther.

The contact of two races and two civilizations cannot be settled by any dogma.

Folkways William Graham Sumner

I thought that the contact was disagreeable; and I endeavoured to withdraw my hand, but could not.

British Dictionary definitions for contact Expand

the act or state of touching physically

the state or fact of close association or communication (esp in the phrases in contact, make contact )

1. a junction of two or more electrical conductors
2. the part of the conductors that makes the junction
3. 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

( usually pl ) an informal name for contact lens

( modifier ) of or relating to irritation or inflammation of the skin caused by touching the causative agent: contact 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) contact: the contact sport of boxing

verb ( ˈkɒntækt ; kənˈtækt )

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

( 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

contactual ( kɒnˈtæktjʊəl ) adjective
contactually, adverb

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
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Word Origin and History for contact Expand

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.

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

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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contact in Medicine Expand

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.