French word

contracter

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃tʁakte/

Meaning

  • verbcatch

Example

Elle a contracté une infection après l'opération.

She caught an infection after the operation.

Illustration for contracter (catch)

More examples

Pendant l'hiver, beaucoup de gens ont contracté la grippe.

During the winter, many people contracted the flu.

Core concept

A contact brings a person or thing into a new state that is held within it or binds it to something.

Common phrases

  • contracter une infection

    contract an infection

  • contracter la grippe

    contract the flu

  • contracter des dettes

    incur debts

Similar words

attraper: Become ill after catching a virus or other pathogen.
prendre: Come down with an illness or infection.
développer: Gradually develop symptoms of an illness.
choper: Catch an illness, in casual speech.

Definition in French

Subir l'invasion d'un agent pathogène, c'est-à-dire attraper une maladie ; peut aussi désigner une contraction ou la prise d'une obligation.

Word origin

Contracter comes into French from Latin contractare, formed from the family of contrahere, 'draw together', and retains related senses of narrowing, acquiring illness, and assuming a commitment.

Usage tips

  • Contracter une maladie is idiomatic for catching a disease, whereas contracter un contrat is generally replaced by signer un contrat.

Other meanings

  • contractverb

Opposites

Related words

  • contractioncontractionnoun
  • contractécontractedadjective

Word lists with this word