contract
- n. 合约, 契约
- v. 使缩小
- v. 感染
- v. 订约
- Definition
- n. a written legal agreement between people or companies
- v. to become smaller or shorter
- v. to catch an illness
- v. to agree formally
- Example
- She signed a contract before starting her new job last week.
- 上周开始新工作前，她签了一份合同。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: to become smaller (verb).
比较义项：使缩小、变小（动词）。
- contract 本词
Formal, technical register; used for gradual or measurable size decrease, e.g. metal, muscles, pupils, gases in science or medical contexts.
语域正式、偏技术性；用于描述渐进或可测量的体积缩小，例如金属、肌肉、瞳孔、气体等科学或医学语境。
Metal pipes contract slightly in cold weather and expand again in heat.
金属管道在寒冷天气中会略微收缩，遇热后又会膨胀。
- shrink
Everyday, informal word; commonly used for fabric or clothing losing size after washing or heat, also figuratively for amounts or budgets.
日常口语常用词；常用于衣物或布料经清洗或受热后缩水，也可比喻用于数量或预算的减少。
The wool sweater began to shrink after the first wash.
这件羊毛衫第一次洗涤后就开始缩水。
Contract and shrink both mean to become smaller. Contract is formal and technical, used for a gradual, measurable decrease, like metal, muscles, or gases in science or medicine. Shrink is everyday and informal, often used for clothes losing size after washing, or amounts decreasing.
这两个词都可以表示物体变小，但语域和搭配不同：contract 是较正式、书面化的用词，常见于科学、医学或技术语境；shrink 是日常口语常用词，尤其常与衣物、布料遇水或加热后缩水连用。这里不比较 contract 的“签订（合同）”这一常见义项。