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REFERENCE

contact

n. · v.
US //ˈkɑnˌtækt// con·tact
  1. 1 communication (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

    the state or act of establishing communication with another party.

    Example

    I have been in regular contact with my old school friends via email.

    Example

    The rescue team finally established radio contact with the stranded hikers after several hours of searching in the dense fog.
  2. 2 a helpful person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

    She has several useful contacts in the fashion industry who helped her find a job.

    Example

    Leveraging his extensive network of political contacts, the lobbyist secured an early meeting with the undersecretary to discuss the proposed legislation.
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  1. 3 physical touch (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the state of two things or people touching each other.

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

    Example

    The disease is spread through direct contact with infected animals.

    Example

    The technician warned that any skin contact with the corrosive cleaning fluid would result in immediate chemical burns.
  2. 4 eye lenses (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Medicine

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

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

    Example

    I prefer wearing contacts to glasses when I go to the gym.

    Example

    After years of wearing daily-disposable contacts, he decided to undergo laser eye surgery to correct his myopia permanently.
    • contact lenses
  3. 5 electrical connection (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

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

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

    Example

    The remote control stopped working because the battery contacts were dirty.

    Example

    The engineer identified a faulty contact in the primary circuit board as the cause of the intermittent power failures.
  4. 6 geological boundary (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the place where two different types of rock meet underground.

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

    Example

    The miners followed the contact between the granite and the gold-bearing quartz.

    Example

    Structural mapping revealed that the ore body was concentrated primarily along the contact between the volcanic and sedimentary layers.
  5. 7 to reach out to (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to write to or speak to someone.

    to initiate communication with a person or organisation.

    Example

    You can contact our customer service team by phone or through our website.

    Example

    The department head requested that all staff contact the human resources office directly to update their emergency contact information.
    Pitfall
    Please contact with me if you have questions.
    Please contact me if you have questions.

    The verb 'contact' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'with'.

Origin

From Latin contactus, from contingō (“I touch on all sides”), from tangō (“I touch”). Used in English since the 17th century.

Word family
  • Nouncontact
  • NounPOC
Idioms1 entry

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