Con‐tract″ (kŏn‐trăkt″), v. i. 1. To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; as, iron contracts in cooling; a rope contracts when wet.
Years contracting to a moment.
Wordsworth.
2. To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; as, to contract for carrying the mail.