[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

contract \contract"\ ko^ntra^kt", v. t. imp.  p. p.
   contracted; p. pr.  vb. n. contracting. l. contractus,
   p. p. of contrahere to contract; con- + trahere to draw: cf.
   f. contracter. see trace, and cf. contract, n.
   1. to draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass;
      to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's
      sphere of action.
      1913 webster

            in all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our
            faculties.                            --dr. h. more.
      1913 webster

   2. to draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
      1913 webster

            thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --shak.
      1913 webster

   3. to bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a
      habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease.
      1913 webster

            each from each contract new strength and light.
                                                  --pope.
      1913 webster

            such behavior we contract by having much conversed
            with persons of high station.         --swift.
      1913 webster

   4. to enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain
      or covenant for.
      1913 webster

            we have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and
            lague with the aforesaid queen.       --hakluyt.
      1913 webster

            many persons . . . had contracted marriage within
            the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by
            law.                                  --strype.
      1913 webster

   5. to betroth; to affiance.
      1913 webster

            the truth is, she and i, long since contracted,
            are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
                                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

   6. gram. to shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by
      reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.

   syn: to shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen;
        condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.
        1913 webster
see also:
contracted contracting trace contract 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

contracting \contracting\ n.
   the act or process of acquiring an infectious disease;
   contraction; as, the contracting of a serious illness can be
   financially catastrophic.

   syn: catching.
        wordnet 1.5

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

contracting
     n : becoming infected; "catching cold is sometimes unavoidable";
         "the contracting of a serious illness can be financially
         catastrophic" syn: catching
see also:
catching 

Contracting >> C Words
Contracting, definition of term: Contracting
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