contact (kantakt; for v. also kan takt)
n.
1 the act or state of touching or meeting [two surfaces in contact]
2 the state or fact of being in touch, communication, or association (with) [to come into contact with new ideas]
3 a) an acquaintance, esp. one who is influential b) a connection with such a person [his contacts at city hall]
4 Elec. a) a connection or point of connection between two conductors in a circuit b) a device for opening and closing such a connection
5 Med. a person who may have caught a disease from an infected person
6 short for contact lens: usually used in pl.
vt.
1 to place in contact
2 to come into contact with
3 to get in touch or communication with
vi.
to be in or come into contact
adj.
of, involving, or relating to contact
adv.
by means of contact flying
Etymology
[L contactus, pp. of contingere, to touch, seize < com-, together + tangere, to touch: see tact]
(C)1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. (C)1994, 1991, 1988 Simon & Schuster, Inc.