From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcontactcon‧tact1 /ˈkɒntækt $ ˈkɑːn-/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL noun 1 COMMUNICATIONCONTACT somebodycommunication [uncountable] communication with a person, organization, country etccontact with/between There is very little contact between the two tribes. Many of us have no direct contact with elderly people.in contact We stay in contact by email. The town is cut off from contact with the outside world.2 TOUCHtouch [uncountable] when two people or things touch each othercontact with/between Children need physical contact with a caring adult. The disease spreads by sexual contact between infected animals.in contact with something For a second, his hand was in contact with mine. When water comes into contact with air, carbon dioxide is released.on contact (with something) The bomb exploded on contact (=at the moment it touched something).3 SITUATION/PROBLEMexperience [uncountable] when you meet someone or experience a particular kind of thing Everyone who came into contact with Di felt better for knowing her. Pat’s job brings her into contact with the problems people face when they retire.4 PERSON WHO CAN HELPperson [countable usually plural]KNOW somebody a person you know who may be able to help or advise you He has a lot of contacts in the media. a worldwide network of contactsbusiness/personal contacts5 → contacts6 → point of contact7 ELECTRICAL PARTelectrical [countable]TEE an electrical part that completes a circuit when it touches another part8 eyes [countable] informalMH a contact lens → eye contact at eye1(5)COLLOCATIONSverbshave contact with somebodyI haven’t had any contact with her for at least two years.be in contact (=have regular communication)He’s been in contact with his lawyer about the situation.get in contact (=manage to communicate)Where can I get in contact with you while you are away?stay/keep in contact (also maintain contact formal)We’ve stayed in contact since we met on holiday.lose contact (=no longer see someone or hear from them)She moved to Spain and I lost contact with her.make contactWe’d like to make contact with other schools in the area.put somebody in contact with somebody (=give someone the name, telephone number etc of another person)I can put you in contact with a friend of mine in Paris.come into contact with somebody (=meet or spend time with someone)It’s good to come into contact with people from different cultures.bring somebody into contact with someoneThe job brought me into contact with a lot of interesting people.establish contactThe police are trying to establish contact with the kidnappers.avoid contactShe doesn’t give interviews and avoids contact with the media.sever contact with somebody (=refuse to have any contact with someone)After the divorce, she severed all contact with her husband.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + contactdirect contact (=spending time with someone)Our volunteers work in direct contact with people who need help.close contact (=communicating with someone often)I like to stay in close contact with my parents.personal contact (=seeing and speaking to someone personally)She never comes into personal contact with senior managers.social/human contact (=spending time with other people)He lived alone and had little human contact.regular contactAll students have regular contact with their tutor.day-to-day/daily contactI like my job because it involves day-to-day contact with clients.face-to-face contact (=talking to someone who is with you)Certain types of jobs do not need face-to-face contact.one-to-one contact (=being with only one other person)Children with learning difficulties may need one-to-one contact.radio contact (=communication by radio)Air traffic control had lost radio contact with the pilot.
Examples from the Corpus
contact• We need better contact between staff and management.• business contacts• The disease cannot be spread through casual contact.• He did not even think of checking the job adverts, as he believed that his contacts would help him more.• Consider the school principal who discovers students wearing beepers to stay in contact with their superiors in the drug trade.• May we learn to treat with respect everyone that we come into contact with.• To me the making of the relationships is the real on-line contact.• Please do not hesitate to make contact with me in the event that this letter leaves unanswered any questions you might have.• "Have you had any other contact with him?" asked the lawyer.• Turn the sliding contact of the potentiometer to approximately mid-position.• An irregularly folded cloth, or one with the folds bunched, reduces the contact area and thus efficiency.• If the filling-in soil is dry, watering is needed only to make this contact, and no more.in contact• The scouts or the ground troops would find the enemy or be in contact.• Greif is clear in his belief that not all parents should be in contact with their children after divorce.• To have played with them then, and still to be in contact, is a great privilege and pleasure.• It is only by returning periodically to it that man can keep in contact with things of ultimate value.• They had a radio truck with them which enabled them to keep in contact.• I look forward to keeping in contact.• Bill, Bill was real concerned because he and Owen stay in contact with each other.• Consider the school principal who discovers students wearing beepers to stay in contact with their superiors in the drug trade.on contact (with something)• Other kinds of oil emulsify on contact with water, turning it, even when substantially diluted, the colour of milk.• The chemical was liable to explode on contact with water.• The defendants supplied a chemical to the plaintiffs but failed to warn that it was liable to explode on contact with water.• Would the cream dissolve fat on contact or penetrate the skin?• The emphasis is on contact and a chance to talk: non-formal activities centring on children, domestic skills and basic literacy.• Shirley MacLaine, according to her autobiography, similarly relies on contacting disembodied entities through various mediums.• Static electricity - that was the only explanation - although from his bland expression he had felt no similar spark on contact.• Ordinary chlorine bleach kills the virus on contact and can be used to sterilize needles between uses. brings ... into contact with• Some teachers have a liaison brief that brings them into contact with other services and parents.• You could develop an interest that brings you into contact with other people, . like collecting paintings or other objetd'art.• The book will appeal to the growing number of professionals and students whose work brings them into contact with farming.business/personal contacts• Within each department or agency his personal contacts were usually limited to its head and perhaps one or two others.• Despite the increased flow of electronic information, both factors and clients see an advantage in improved personal contacts.• Modest wage and price pressures were reported by most business contacts.• Small companies, which rarely re-organize, thrive on personal contacts.• Information can flow freely between members, as a result of the personal contacts established within these groups.• Other clients were reached via business contacts or friends.• Listen to the radio carefully and choose your personal contacts accordingly.contactcontact2 ●●● S2 W2 AWL verb [transitive] CONTACT somebodyto write to or telephone someone Give the name of someone who we can contact in an emergency. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries. —contactable adjective [not before noun] A mobile phone makes you contactable wherever you are.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say get in touch with someone rather than contact someone: Is there a number where I can get in touch with you?GRAMMAR: Comparisoncontact• You contact someone: Contact the sales department for details. ✗Don’t say: Contact with the sales department for details.make contact/get in contact• You make contact with someone: I’ve been trying to make contact with him. ✗Don’t say: make a contact with someone• You get in contact with someone: You can get in contact with us on this number. ✗Don’t say: get in contact to someone • You can also say that two or more people make contact or get in contact: They made contact as soon as they landed.get in touch• You get in touch with someone: I managed to get in touch with the owner.• You can also say that two or more people get in touch: We got in touch and arranged to meet.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
contact• I was given the names of three government officials to contact.• If the problem continues, try contacting a software expert.• I would have to find another way to contact my grandfather.• Elsa contacted several companies to ask if they could offer her part-time work.• My advice to anyone thinking of buying the top names is to contact the auction houses for catalogues of their summer sales.• Buyers contact the company via phone.• After they received the bomb threat, school officials immediately contacted the police.• School officials immediately contacted the police.• Look at this example: Thank you for contacting us about the difficulty you had collecting your baggage at the Oakland airport.• I would expect that they would contact us and secure whatever permissions and licenses are appropriate.• The piloting team can be contacted via the Helpline number:.contactcontact3 AWL adjective [only before noun] 1 → contact number/address/details2 HCcontact explosives or chemicals become active when they touch something contact poisonsExamples from the Corpus
contact• Glue the tiles to the floor with contact cement.• Did Mr. Warren leave a contact number?From Longman Business Dictionarycontactcon‧tact /ˈkɒntæktˈkɑːn-/ noun [countable] a person you know who may be able to help or advise you, especially because of the work they doHe has a lot of contacts in the media.There are some excellent opportunities around, if you ask friends and business contacts.Origin contact1 (1600-1700) French Latin contactus, from the past participle of contigere; → CONTINGENT1 