contact

[kon-takt] /ˈkɒn tækt/
noun
1.
the act or state of touching; a touching or meeting, as of two things or people.
2.
immediate proximity or association.
3.
an acquaintance, colleague, or relative through whom a person can gain access to information, favors, influential people, and the like.
4.
Electricity. a junction of electric conductors, usually metal, that controls current flow, often completing or interrupting a circuit.
5.
Geology. the interface, generally a planar surface, between strata that differ in lithology or age.
6.
Medicine/Medical. a person who has lately been exposed to an infected person.
7.
Sociology. a condition in which two or more individuals or groups are placed in communication with each other.
Compare categoric contact, primary contact, secondary contact, sympathetic contact.
8.
contact lens.
verb (used with object)
9.
to put or bring into contact.
10.
to communicate with:
We'll contact you by mail or telephone.
verb (used without object)
11.
to enter into or be in contact.
adjective
12.
involving or produced by touching or proximity:
contact allergy.
Origin
1620-30; < Latin contāctus a touching, equivalent to contāc- < *contag-, variant stem of contingere to touch (con- con- + -tingere, combining form of tangere to touch) + -tus suffix of v. action; cf. tango, attain
Related forms
contactual
[kon-tak-choo-uh l] /kɒnˈtæk tʃu əl/ (Show IPA), adjective
contactually, adverb
noncontact, noun, adjective
recontact, noun, verb
uncontacted, adjective
Usage note
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.
Examples from the web for contact
  • These films can readily form a slick on artificial hips, contact lenses and in catheters.
  • First, a business needs to establish a single goal for how its contact information is going to be used.
  • Our system will automatically contact those references to request a letter for your application.
  • If you are unable to locate it, please contact your local print service centre.
  • Our travels around the world bring us in contact with the incredible variety of human cultures.
  • If you have questions about advance ticket purchase, please see the contact information below.
  • The kind of contact that follows online winking is far from virtual.
  • The new solution allows users to attach notes or history to multiple contact records.
  • contact an advertising specialist for more information.
  • So are steps such as moving more transactions online, to reduce contact with officials.
British Dictionary definitions for contact

contact

noun (ˈkɒntækt)
1.
the act or state of touching physically
2.
the state or fact of close association or communication (esp in the phrases in contact, make contact)
3.
  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
4.
an acquaintance, esp one who might be useful in business, as a means of introduction, etc
5.
any person who has been exposed to a contagious disease
6.
(photog) See contact print
7.
(usually pl) an informal name for contact lens
8.
(modifier) of or relating to irritation or inflammation of the skin caused by touching the causative agent: contact dermatitis
9.
(modifier) denoting an insecticide or herbicide that kills on contact, rather than after ingestion or absorption
10.
(modifier) of or maintaining contact
11.
(modifier) requiring or involving (physical) contact: the contact sport of boxing
verb (ˈkɒntækt; kənˈtækt)
12.
when intr, often foll by with. to put, come, or be in association, touch, or communication
interjection
13.
(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
Derived Forms
contactual (kɒnˈtæktjʊəl) adjective
contactually, adverb
Word Origin
C17: from Latin contactus, from contingere to touch on all sides, pollute, from tangere to touch
Word Origin and History for contact
n.

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.

v.

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

contact in Medicine

contact con·tact (kŏn'tākt')
n.

  1. A coming together or touching, as of bodies or surfaces.

  2. A person recently exposed to a contagious disease, usually through close association with an infected individual.

v. con·tact·ed, con·tact·ing, con·tact·s (kŏn'tākt', kən-tākt')
To bring, be, or come in contact. adj.

  1. Of, sustaining, or making contact.

  2. Caused or transmitted by touching, as a rash.

contact in Science
contact
  (kŏn'tākt')   

  1. Electricity

    1. A connection between two conductors that allows an electric current to flow.

    2. A part or device that makes or breaks a connection in an electrical circuit.

  2. Geology The place where two different types of rock, or rocks of different ages, come together.