- 1 [uncountable] contact (with somebody) | contact (between A and B) the act of communicating with somebody, especially regularly I don't have much contact with my uncle. There is little contact between the two organizations. Have you kept in contact with any of your friends from college (= do you still see them or speak or write to them)? She's lost contact with (= no longer sees or writes to) her son. I finally made contact with (= succeeded in speaking to or meeting) her in Paris. The organization put me in contact with other people in a similar position (= gave me their addresses or telephone numbers). two people avoiding eye contact (= avoiding looking directly at each other) Here's my contact number (= temporary telephone number) while I'm away. I'll give you my contact details (= telephone number, email address, etc.). Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveclose, constant, daily, … verb + contactbe in, have, come into, … prepositioncontact between, contact with See full entry touching somebody/something
- 2 [uncountable] the state of touching something His fingers were briefly in contact with the ball. This substance should not come into contact with food. a fear of physical contact She blushed at the sudden contact of his hand against her arm. This pesticide kills insects on contact (= as soon as it touches them). This chemical is liable to explode on contact with water. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivephysical, sexual, eye, … verb + contactcome into, avoid, prevent, … prepositionin contact, on contact, contact between, … See full entry meeting somebody/something
- 3 [uncountable] the state of meeting somebody or having to deal with something In her job she often comes into contact with (= meets) lawyers. Children should be brought into contact with poetry at an early age. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveclose, constant, daily, … verb + contactbe in, have, come into, … prepositioncontact between, contact with See full entry relationship
- 4 [countable, usually plural] an occasion on which you meet or communicate with somebody; a relationship with somebody We have good contacts with the local community. The company has maintained trade contacts with India. person
- 5 [countable] a person that you know, especially somebody who can be helpful to you in your work social/personal contacts I've made some useful contacts in journalism. She has several contacts in New York. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegood, useful, valuable, … verb + contacthave, build up, develop, … See full entry electrical
- 6[countable] an electrical connection The switches close the contacts and complete the circuit. for eyes
- 7contacts [plural] (informal) = contact lens medical
- 8[countable] a person who may be infectious because he or she has recently been near to somebody with a contagious disease Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Latin contactus, from contact- ‘touched, grasped, bordered on’, from the verb contingere, from con- ‘together with’ + tangere ‘to touch’.Extra examples For a brief moment their lips were in contact. Have you had any direct contact with the director of the company? He has a lot of good contacts in the music industry. He never makes eye contact with me. He used his contacts to get his son a publishing job. I have very little contact with Simon now. I made a lot of useful business contacts at the conference. I put my cousin in contact with a friend who works at the company. In his job he comes into contact with many different people. It takes time to build up contacts. Let’s try to stay in contact! Maintaining contact after many years can be difficult. She is still in close contact with Sarah. She was deprived of all human contact for three weeks. The disease is transmitted through physical contact. The light will go out on contact with water. There has been no contact between them for several years. There should be no contact between the separate samples. We first established contact with the organization in 1999. When I arrive in Delhi I’ll get in contact with him. Children should be brought into contact with poetry at an early age. Have you kept in contact with any of your friends from college? He carefully avoided eye contact. Here’s my contact number while I’m away. I don’t have much contact with my uncle. I finally made contact with her in Paris. I’ve made some useful contacts in journalism. In her job she often comes into contact with lawyers. She’s lost contact with her son. The organization put me in contact with other people in a similar position. You should make contact with them by email before you call.Idioms
act of communicating
a place where you go or a person that you speak to when you are dealing with an organization The receptionist is the first point of contact most people have with the clinic.
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