contact

Communication with someone, for example by speaking, writing, or calling.

• We keep in contact by phone.
• She lost contact with her school friends.
• Have you had any contact with him recently?

How to use it: be in contact with someone (I am still in contact with my old teacher.); get in contact with someone (Please get in contact with our office.); lose contact with someone (We lost contact with our neighbours after moving.)

Similar words: communication

Common phrases: keep in contact, lose contact, contact with someone

The state or act of physically touching someone or something.

• Avoid direct contact with the chemical.
• The ball made contact with his hand.
• The disease can spread through close physical contact.

How to use it: contact with someone/something (Avoid contact with the hot surface.)

Similar words: touch, touching

Common phrases: physical contact, direct contact, contact with something

In "eye contact", the act of two people looking directly into each other’s eyes.

• He avoided eye contact.
• Try to maintain eye contact with your audience.
• We made eye contact across the crowded room.

How to use it: make eye contact with someone (She made eye contact with me and smiled.)

Common phrases: eye contact, make eye contact, avoid eye contact

A small metal part that allows electricity to pass between connected parts.

• Clean the contact with a dry cloth.
• The battery contacts were covered in dirt.
• A damaged contact stopped the device from working.

Similar words: terminal

Common phrases: electrical contact, battery contact

To phone someone or send them a message.

• Please contact me tomorrow.
• She contacted the hotel by email.
• Can I contact you at this number?

Similar words: get in touch with, reach

Common phrases: contact someone, contact the office, contact the police

To touch someone or something physically.

• The ball contacted the ground.
• Neither wheel contacts the metal frame.
• The liquid must not contact your skin.

Similar words: touch

Common phrases: contact the surface, contact the ground