# contact

/ˈkɑnˌtækt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contact
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. communication

noun · CEFR B1

the act of communicating with someone, especially by calling or writing to them.

For teachers: the state or act of establishing communication with another party.

- I have been in regular contact with my old school friends via email.
- The rescue team finally established radio contact with the stranded hikers after several hours of searching in the dense fog.

### 2. a helpful person

noun · CEFR B2

a person you know who can give you information or help, especially in business.

For teachers: an acquaintance or associate who can provide information, influence, or assistance within a professional or social network.

- She has several useful contacts in the fashion industry who helped her find a job.
- Leveraging his extensive network of political contacts, the lobbyist secured an early meeting with the undersecretary to discuss the proposed legislation.

### 3. physical touch

noun · CEFR B1

the state of two things or people touching each other.

For teachers: the state of physical touching or immediate proximity between two surfaces or bodies.

- The disease is spread through direct contact with infected animals.
- The technician warned that any skin contact with the corrosive cleaning fluid would result in immediate chemical burns.

### 4. eye lenses

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

small, thin pieces of plastic that you wear on your eyes to help you see better.

For teachers: a corrective, cosmetic, or therapeutic lens placed directly on the cornea of the eye.

- I prefer wearing contacts to glasses when I go to the gym.
- After years of wearing daily-disposable contacts, he decided to undergo laser eye surgery to correct his myopia permanently.

### 5. electrical connection

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a part of an electrical device that touches another part to let electricity flow.

For teachers: a junction where two electrical conductors touch, allowing current to pass between them.

- The remote control stopped working because the battery contacts were dirty.
- The engineer identified a faulty contact in the primary circuit board as the cause of the intermittent power failures.

### 6. geological boundary

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the place where two different types of rock meet underground.

For teachers: the surface or plane where two different rock masses or formations meet.

- The miners followed the contact between the granite and the gold-bearing quartz.
- Structural mapping revealed that the ore body was concentrated primarily along the contact between the volcanic and sedimentary layers.

### 7. to reach out to

verb · CEFR A2

to write to or speak to someone.

For teachers: to initiate communication with a person or organisation.

- You can contact our customer service team by phone or through our website.
- The department head requested that all staff contact the human resources office directly to update their emergency contact information.

## Examples

- Please keep in contact with us while you are away.
- The manager lost contact with the regional office after the storm damaged the local communication towers.
- Maintaining regular contact with international suppliers is essential for ensuring that the supply chain remains resilient against sudden shifts in global market demand.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
