contactn.
/ˈkɒntakt/, U.S. /ˈkɑntæk(t)/ 1.
a. The state or condition of touching; the mutual relation of two bodies whose external surfaces touch each other. Hence to be or come in (into) contact.
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the world > space > distance > nearness > [noun] > contiguity
toucha1398
contingence1561
concourse1570
admotion1603
collaterage1610
contact1626
contaction1628
contiguousness1639
contingencya1646
contiguity1648
concurrence1656
osculation1669
abuttal1797
tangency1813
touching1842
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §443 The Desire of return into the Body; whereupon followeth that appetite of Contact and Conjunction.
1776 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. (ed. 4, octavo) III. iv. 105 They [sc. basking shark] will permit a boat to follow them..till it comes almost within contact.
1799 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 2 28 It has been asserted, that the cow-pox cannot be communicated but by contact.
1807 S. Cooper First Lines Pract. Surg. I. ii. xxiii. 309 The edges of the wound in the trachea may be..kept in contact.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. v. 145 Bringing it into visual contact with the upright pilasters.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 75 So as to avoid contact with air.
1885 Whitaker's Almanack, Eclipses. First contact with the Penumbra, 1h. 50m. aft. First contact with the shadow, 2h. 59m. aft.
b. with plural.
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1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis 6 The Cohesion in all Bodies must be as the Surfaces and Contacts of their component Parts.
1828 C. Lamb Detached Thoughts on Bks. in Elia 2nd Ser. 187 How he sidled along, keeping clear of secular contacts.
c. to make or break contact: to complete or interrupt an electric circuit. Cf. contact-breaker n., contact-maker n. at Compounds 3. Hence, the touching or uniting of points or surfaces of conductors to permit the flow of electric current; also, a device for effecting this.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > connect [verb (transitive)] > complete
to make or break contactc1860
close1876
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > circuit-breaker > interrupt circuit [verb (transitive)]
open1832
to make or break contactc1860
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > connection, contact > [noun]
connection1832
bonding1910
to make contact1915
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > connection, contact > [noun] > connection between conductors
connecter1795
connection1832
bond1903
to make contact1915
spade terminal1968
c1860 M. Faraday Var. Forces Nature vi. 168 If I make contact with the battery, they are attracted at once.
1881 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magnetism (ed. 2) II. 172 If we make contact only for an instant, and then break contact, the two induced currents pass through the galvanometer in..rapid succession.
1915 ‘Bartimeus’ Tall Ship i. 30 ‘I suppose you tested the contacts?’ he asked.
1932 H. Nicolson Public Faces vii. 192 He stood stock still beside the aeroplane while the pilot fiddled inside with the contacts.
d. Psychology. A light pressure upon the skin or the sensation of this. Also contact sensation.
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the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > [noun] > physical sensation through
touchingc1325
feelinga1425
contact sensation1901
1901 J. M. Baldwin Dict. Philos. & Psychol. I. 222/1 Contact Sensation... A sensation made up probably (Dessoir) of Touch Sensation and Pressure Sensation.
1903 Royce Outl. Psychol. 133 Still other points on the skin, very wealthily interspersed amongst the others, give us, if excited in isolation, sensations of contact or of pressure.
e. Aeronautics. Used as a signal to a person about to swing an aircraft propeller that the ignition system is switched on; usually as int.
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society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [interjection] > signal that ignition is on
contact1913
1913 C. Mellor Airman vi. 29 On the word ‘contact’ given by the pilot the mechanic launched the Chauvière ‘Intégrale’ propeller, and the trusty Renault engine started at the first swing.
1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 16 ‘Contact!’ replied the flight-commander; his engine roared, around flew the propeller.
1917 Blackwood Mag. Mar. 381/2 The order, ‘Start up!’ passed down the long line of machines. ‘Contact, Sir!’ said the flight-commander's mechanic.
1919 B. Ruck Disturbing Charm xi I climbed in, and the boys swung the propeller. I gave 'em ‘Contact’, and then I was up and off.
1933 Word Study May 4/2 ‘Contact’..is the word of warning given by the pilot of an airplane to the starter who spins the propeller, or ‘cranks the motor’.
f. elliptical for contact lens n. at Compounds 3). Usually in plural. colloquial.
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the world > health and disease > healing > ophthalmology or optometry > aids to defective vision > [noun] > contact lenses
contact lens1888
lens1888
contact glasses1906
contact1961
1961 Webster's 3rd New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1980 A. Pearl Dict. Pop. Slang 29/2 Contacts, abbreviation for contact lenses.
1982 S. Conran Lace v. xxx. 320 But Pagan, you look exactly the same, except you don't wear glasses any more. Contacts?
1984 M. Amis Money 44 I can't wear glasses because it hurts my nose. I can't wear contacts because it hurts my nerves.
2. transferred and figurative.
a. to come in contact with: to meet, come across, be brought into practical connection with.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > [noun] > contact, connection, or dealings
dealinga1538
deal1588
business1611
to come in contact with1818
connection1860
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience
ymetec893
findeOE
meetOE
counterc1325
overtakec1390
limp?a1400
tidea1400
runa1450
to fall with ——?c1475
onlightc1475
recounterc1485
recount1490
to come in witha1500
occur1531
to fall on ——1533
to fall upon ——1533
beshine1574
rencontre1582
entertain1591
cope with1594
happen1594
tocome1596
incur1599
forgather1600
thwart1601
to fall in1675
cross1684
to come across ——1738
to cross upon (or on)1748
to fall across ——1760
experience1786
to drop in1802
encounter1814
to come upon ——1820
to run against ——1821
to come in contact with1862
to run across ——1864
to knock or run up against1886
to knock up against1887
the world > relative properties > relationship > in relation to [phrase] > come in contact with
to come in contact with1862
1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV cxxv. 65 Though accident, blind contact, and the strong Necessity of loving, have removed Antipathies.
1862 A. Trollope Orley Farm II. xiii. 103 Never till now had he come into close contact with crime.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §4. 127 A new fervour of study sprang up in the West from its contact with the more civilized East.
1889 Illustr. London News 21 Dec. 782/1 A large baboon..snapping at all it came in contact with.
b. point of contact n.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > [noun] > contact, connection, or dealings > point of contact
point of contact1862
touchpoint1889
1862 G. C. Lewis Astron. Anc. i. §1. 2 The history of astronomy has numerous points of contact with the general history of mankind.
1883 ‘G. Lloyd’ Ebb & Flow II. xxxi. 192 They had a point of contact where they least expected it.
c. A person who has been exposed to infection by proximity to a person suffering from an infectious disease.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [noun] > person or population > contact
contact1901
1901 Standard 4 Mar. A large number of contacts and suspects have been placed in quarantine.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 792/1 (Plague) ‘Contacts’ should be kept under observation.
1907 Practitioner Dec. 837 The infection of scarlet fever is not carried..in the clothes of mere contacts.
d. A person who can be called upon for assistance, information, etc.; an acquaintance, esp. one who can be useful in business; an agent; a connection or acquaintanceship. Originally U.S. colloquial. (Cf. quot. 1828 at sense 1b.)
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the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > state of being acquainted > acquaintance
friendOE
knowerc1350
acquainta1400
knowinga1400
acquaintancec1405
acquainted?c1566
conversant1589
acquaintant1611
habitude1676
contact1931
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > non-manual worker > businessman > [noun] > business contact
contact1931
1931 G. Irwin Amer. Tramp & Underworld Slang 54 Contact, a connection or affiliation made by a criminal to protect himself from arrest or to make crime easy.
1931 H. G. Wells Work, Wealth & Happiness Mankind (1932) x. 426 It helped them to obtain what the Americans call ‘contacts’.
1935 Economist 19 Jan. 133/1 By a series of links in a..chain, varying in substance from closely definitive trade agreements to mere directorial ‘contacts’, the group maintains an individual relationship with leading British concerns.
1937 A. Christie Murder in Mews 89 She's had three husbands, one Italian, one German and one Russian, and..in consequence she has made useful what I think are called ‘contacts’ in three countries.
1949 M. Laski Little Boy Lost ii. iv. 71 Madame.. may not have been the curé's only contact for disposing of those children.
1954 X. Fielding Hide & Seek 64 Who, we hoped, would put us in touch with another trustworthy contact further on.
e. Aeronautics. The state of being in sight of the surface of the earth (see contact analogue n., contact flight n., contact flying n. at Compounds 3 below). Also used as adv. U.S.
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society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > navigation of course of aircraft > [noun] > by observation of landmarks > state of being in sight of ground
contact1940
1940 Life 16 Sept. 65 Most of the trip was flown ‘contact’.
1947 Harper's Mag. Apr. 324/1 When you can see any trace of the ground,..that's ‘contact’—because you are visually in touch with the world.
3. Mathematics. The touching of a straight line and a curve, of two curves, or of two surfaces; the meeting of two curves (or surfaces) at a point so as to have a common tangent (or tangent plane) at that point; the coincidence of two or more consecutive points on each of two curves.If two consecutive points on each curve coincide, the curves are said to have contact of the first order; if three, contact of the second order; and so on. angle of contact: see angle n.2 Phrases 2.
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the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] > of intersection or contact
toucha1398
touchpoint1585
foot1652
contact1660
section?1677
origin1723
node1866
biflecnode1879
intersect1886
meet1893
1660 tr. I. Barrow Euclide's Elements iii. 58 If two circles..touch one the other outwardly, the right line AB which joins their centres A, B, shall passe through the point of contact C.
1660 tr. I. Barrow Euclide's Elements iii. 61 Any acute angle, to wit, EAD, is greater then the angle of contact DAI.
1840 D. Lardner Treat. Geom. 187 If one of the cylinders..be rolled upon the other, their line of contact will move parallel to itself.
1884 B. Williamson Elem. Treat. Differential Calculus (ed. 5) 290–1 The circle which passes through three infinitely near points on a curve is said to have contact of the second order with it.
1884 B. Williamson Elem. Treat. Differential Calculus (ed. 5) 304 The tangent to a curve has a contact of the first order with the curve at its point of contact, and the osculating circle a contact of the second order.
1884 B. Williamson Elem. Treat. Differential Calculus (ed. 5) 306 If the contact be of an even order..the curves cut each other at their point of contact.
4. Geology. Hence contact-bed, contact-deposit, contact vein.
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1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 122 Contact, the plane between two adjacent bodies of dissimilar rock. A contact-vein is a vein, and a contact-bed is a bed, lying, the former more or less closely, the latter absolutely, along a contact.
Compounds
C1. contact electricity, contact force, contact potential: see quot. 18811.
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1881 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magnetism (ed. 2) I. 337 It appears that when two different metals are in contact there is in general an electromotive force acting from the one to the other, so as to make the potential of the one exceed that of the other by a certain quantity.]
1881 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magnetism (ed. 2) I. 339 This is Volta's theory of Contact Electricity.
1885 H. W. Watson & S. H. Burbury Math. Theory Electr. & Magn. 225 This difference of potentials is generally called the electromotive contact forces of the two metals..The metal of higher contact potential.
C2. Applied attributively to operations (or units engaged therein) which have the object of maintaining contact between aircraft and advancing forces of infantry, as contact control, contact machine, contact patrol, contact work.
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1917 Blackwood's Mag. Mar. 380/1 Machines would be detailed for contact work with our infantry.
1917 Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 144/2 The low-flying contact machines..play their part of mothering the infantry.
1917 Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 147/1 The new system of contact patrols was found [in 1916] to be useful in dealing with Boche movements directly behind the front line.
1918 E. M. Roberts Flying Fighter 131 Contact Control, the purpose of which is to keep in touch with advancing infantry, tabulate its progress, and then report to headquarters.
1934 Flight 18 Jan. 48 Contact patrols, as they were called, became a regular duty of the Royal Flying Corps.
C3.
contact action n. Chemistry = catalysis n.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > processes or substances affecting reactions > catalysis
catalysis1836
contact action1859
1859 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 138/1 To be referred to the class of ‘contact actions’.
1882 H. Watts Dict. Chem. II. 12 Examples of these contact actions are found both in inorganic and in organic chemistry.
contact analogue n. a device which presents navigational information visually (in chart form) to the pilot of an aircraft.
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society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > controls and instruments > [noun] > navigational instrument > device representing navigational information
contact analogue1958
1958 Times 17 Oct. 15/2 The contact analogue which, through a single cathode-ray display tube and with the assistance of a computer, will give a pilot swiftly and precisely the information he requires to fly his aircraft safely and accurately.
1961 Flight 79 250/2 (caption) A contact analogue pattern reflected from the trichroic combiner in a cockpit mock-up.
contact bed n. a tank containing porous material through which sewage is filtered in order that contact with the bacterial organisms and atmospheric oxygen in the pores of the material may chemically destroy the noxious organic matter in the sewage.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > provision of sewers > sewage treatment > [noun] > apparatus for sewage treatment
septic tank1896
percolating filter1901
contact bed1902
trickling filter1903
bacteria bed1913
sedimentation tank1920
septic1929
comminutor1939
1902 Westm. Gaz. 18 Aug. 2/1 The contact bed treatment differs from the intermittent filtration method in that the sewage is rapidly run into a bed of cinders,..or the like, and after a few hours is as quickly run out.
1911 G. B. Kershaw Sewage Purification 226 Treatment of sewage in contact beds.
1936 E. H. Blake Drainage & Sanitation (ed. 5) xi. 428 Such treatment is carried out in what are often called Bacteria Beds. These may be on the intermittent principle, in which case they are called Contact Beds, or on the continuous flow principle, in which case they are called Percolating Filters or Trickling Filters; in either case the cause of purification is aerobic bacteria.
contact block n. devices for the passage, conduction, or transmission of electric current by contact (see 1c).
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > connection, contact > [noun] > contact device
faceplate1860
brush-form1872
contact piece1876
brush1883
contact brush1884
contact block1901
make-and-break1903
1901 L. M. Waterhouse Conduit Wiring 32 The contact block of the ceiling-rose.
contact brush n.
contact piece n.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > connection, contact > [noun] > contact device
faceplate1860
brush-form1872
contact piece1876
brush1883
contact brush1884
contact block1901
make-and-break1903
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy 37 The zinc plate, fitted with a brass contact piece.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 May 7/1 The engine is provided with a contact piece, and as soon as it touches the insulated bar electrical connection with the signal-box is established.
contact-breaker n. a contrivance for breaking an electric circuit automatically.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > circuit-breaker > [noun]
contact-breaker1838
cutout1874
safety fuse1882
break-circuita1884
fuse1884
contactor1910
oil circuit-breaker1916
tapping key1916
1838 G. Bird in London & Edinb. Philos. Mag. 12 18 Description of a magnetic contact-breaker.
c1865 J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 252/2 The contact between the electro-magnet and the battery is broken by means of any form of contact-breaker.
contact brush n. see contact block n.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > connection, contact > [noun] > contact device
faceplate1860
brush-form1872
contact piece1876
brush1883
contact brush1884
contact block1901
make-and-break1903
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > dynamo > [noun] > contact
brush1883
contact brush1884
slip ring1896
collector ring1909
1884 F. Krohn tr. G. Glaser de Cew Magneto- & Dynamo-electr. Machines 264 The iron core is magnetised by the electric current flowing through the windings of the rotating helix from the one contact-brush to the other.
contact-clause n. (see quot. 1946).
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the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > syntax or word order > syntactic unit or constituent > [noun] > clause > other specific types of clause
clausulec1449
protasis1588
illative1604
apodosisa1638
incident proposition1725
subordinate clause1809
subclause1823
adjective clause1834
subject clause1840
nominative absolute1843
that-clause1845
head clause1915
contact-clause1927
content clause1927
wh-clause1957
1927 O. Jespersen Mod. Eng. Gram. III. vii. 132 These clauses are here termed contact-clauses, because what characterizes them is the close contact between the antecedent and the clause.
1946 Trans. Philol. Soc. 1945 131 The contact-clause (Jespersen's term), i.e. parataxis with omission of that in indirect statement and with the omission of the relative pronoun when object of a verb, e.g. the man I saw.
contact flight n. originally U.S. navigation of an aircraft by the observation of landmarks.
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1950 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Add. Contact flight.
contact flying n.
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society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > navigation of course of aircraft > [noun] > by observation of landmarks
contact flying1938
1938 A. Jordanoff Through Overcast xxv. 304 In the early days..airmen..tried to guide themselves through the overcast by the ‘feel’ of the controls which they had acquired during contact flying.
1946 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 50 750/2 Until adequate radio aids to navigation were available in the United Kingdom, the pilots of the regular services developed a high degree of skill in the art of ‘contact’ flying.
contact glasses n. = contact lenses, see contact lens n.
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the world > health and disease > healing > ophthalmology or optometry > aids to defective vision > [noun] > contact lenses
contact lens1888
lens1888
contact glasses1906
contact1961
1906 Lancet 13 Oct. 1007/1 A few years ago glass shells, which are known as contact glasses, have been introduced by Fick, for the temporary relief of irregular corneal astigmatism.
1937 Aeroplane 9 June 712 Contact glasses are thin, transparent, saucer-shaped glass bowls which fit on to the anterior surface of the eye.
contact healing n. the healing of illness by physical contact with a spiritualist medium.
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the world > the supernatural > the occult > spiritualism > [noun] > spiritual healing
spirit healing1856
absent healing1906
contact healing1945
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > non-scientific treatments > [noun] > contact healing by spiritualist medium
contact healing1945
1945 H. Edwards Sci. Spirit Healing iv. 19 Spirit healing is divided into two main sections: (a) Absent Healing..and (b) Personal or Contact Healing by touch, or the ‘laying on’ of hands.
1956 R. M. Lester Towards Hereafter v. 67 While I was having this contact healing, I was also having absent healing.
contact lens n. (or contact lenses) small glass or plastic lens(es) placed inside the eyelids in contact with the globe of the eye to correct faulty vision.
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the world > health and disease > healing > ophthalmology or optometry > aids to defective vision > [noun] > contact lenses
contact lens1888
lens1888
contact glasses1906
contact1961
1888 C. H. May tr. A. E. Fick in Arch. Ophthalmol. 17 216 A small glass shell..which I call ‘a contact-lens’.
1888 C. H. May tr. A. E. Fick in Arch. Ophthalmol. 17 217 The ‘contact-lens’ consists of a thin glass shell, bounded by concentric and parallel spherical segments.
1942 Lancet 30 June 744/2 Plastic contact lenses are less well tolerated than glass.
1944 Times 14 Feb. 4/6 Squadron Leader Geoffrey B. Warne, D.S.O., D.F.C., a Typhoon fighter leader who wears contact lens spectacles, shot down an enemy aircraft.
contact-level n. an instrument in which a form of spirit-level is used for the determination of minute differences of length.
contact-lever n. the lever which moves a contact-level.
contact-maker n. a contrivance for completing an electric circuit automatically.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > [noun] > complete circuit or path > device completing
contact-maker1886
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 25 Aug. 14/1 There are in each compartment two incandescent 16-candle power lamps. By the application of a contact maker, only one is lit at a time.
contact man n. originally U.S. colloquial an intermediary in a transaction; a go-between; one who carries or supplies information (cf. sense 2d above).
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society > communication > [noun] > one who or that which communicates
communicator1550
correspondent1639
communicant1847
intercommunicator1855
languager1918
contact man1926
1926 M. Connelly Traveler 5 Each one of us conductors is really a contact man.
1938 D. Thomas Let. 31 Dec. in Sel. Lett. (1966) 220 I met that sap Goodland, the blue-and-water-eyed contactman.
1949 Times 31 Jan. 4/6 Business men are tempted to employ ‘contact men’ in an effort to smooth away obstacles.
contact metamorphism n. Geology the transformation of rock as a result of an igneous intrusion.
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the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > metamorphism > [noun]
metamorphism1845
regional metamorphism1861
contact metamorphism1876
plutonometamorphism1889
thermo-metamorphism1889
anamorphism1904
katamorphism1904
symphrattism1904
1876 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. 32 426 The Cornish slates existed as metamorphic rock (cleaved and sometimes contorted) long before the intrusion of the granite. The contact metamorphism produced thereby extends to a short distance only.
1960 L. D. Stamp Britain's Struct. & Scenery (ed. 5) 24 The molten rock bakes and hardens the rocks through which it passes—it changes their form by its contact (..hence the process is called contact metamorphism).
contact-mine n. a mine which explodes by contact.
ΚΠ
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 21 Mar. 5/1 A contact mine explodes when struck by a vessel.
contact piece n. see contact block n.
ΚΠ
1890 Kodak Man. 76 Any Kodak negative that will make a good contact print, will make a good enlargement.
contact-point n. the metal point which makes contact in a telegraphic-apparatus.
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society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telegraphy > telegraph > [noun] > other parts of telegraphs
electric wire1819
pecker1858
sounder1860
motograph1874
contact-point1879
phonopore1885
phonophore1886
separator1891
syntonizer1900
power buzzer1918
1879 G. B. Prescott Speaking Telephone (new ed.) 11 The position of this contact-point may be adjusted by means of a screw.
1884 Chambers's Jrnl. 25 Oct. 686/1 Iridium has been used..for..contact points for telegraphic apparatus.
contact printing n. Photography the making of prints by passing light through a negative on to sensitized paper, glass, or film held in direct contact with the negative.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > [noun] > printing > types of
sun painting1839
sun-printing1853
surface process1865
contact printing1876
silver-printing1878
pigment printing1879
bromide printing1885
printing out1889
screen process1890
gaslight printing1899
projection printing1923
1876 W. de W. Abney Instr. Photogr. (ed. 3) 99 The following are modes of production [of transparencies] by the camera or by contact printing.
1892 W. de W. Abney Instruct. Photogr. (ed. 9) 253 Transparencies by Contact Printing.
1897 C. M. Hepworth Animated Photogr. xiv. 103 When used for contact printing, two spools are attached in a light-tight box to the top of the instrument.
contact plate n.
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1892 W. de W. Abney Instruct. Photogr. (ed. 9) 253 Transparencies by Contact Plates.
contact print n.
ΚΠ
1933 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 37 232 ‘Contact prints’ are made with the negative and the printing paper in direct contact.
1962 Unesco Bull. for Libraries 16 3 When copies of a microphotographic negative are required, contact prints may be made either on transparent material or on paper.
contact slide n.
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1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 58 There is some thing in a slide by reduction which a contact slide lacks, and no doubt this is due to the fact that the former is made by the agency of daylight.
contact process n. a process by which sulphuric acid is obtained from sulphur trioxide in the presence of a catalyst (e.g. platinum).
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > chemical reactions or processes (named) > industrial processes > others
Solvay (or Solvay's) process1879
contact process1903
thermite process1905
cyanamide process1922
Purex1951
1903 G. Lunge Theoret. & Pract. Treat. Manuf. Sulphuric Acid & Alkali (ed. 3) I. xi. 975 We have here the fundamental features of the contact-process as now employed, and Peregrine Phillips must be called its inventor.
1910 Encycl. Brit. V. 501/2 The ‘spongy’ platinum so formed brings about the combination of..sulphur dioxide and oxygen to form sulphur trioxide. The last reaction..receives commercial application in the contact process of sulphuric acid manufacture.
contact screen n. Photography a half-tone screen made on a film base.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > processing and printing equipment > [noun] > screen
screen1852
viewscreen1894
contact screen1940
1940 Photogr. Jrnl. 80 59 (heading) Preparation of vignetted or contact screens.
1957 R. W. G. Hunt Reprod. Colour xi. 151 With a contact screen..a fine line will clearly be reproduced as a line of dots, each of which is elongated in the direction of the line.
contact sport n. originally U.S. any sport in which the participants necessarily come into bodily contact with one another.
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society > leisure > sport > [noun] > type
code?1874
contact sport1949
1949 P. Cummings Dict. Sports 82/1 Contact sport, a sport or game where the contestants come..in bodily contact with one another. The list includes boxing, wrestling, football, [etc.].
1981 Daily Tel. 19 Mar. 18 Fatalities occur in all sports, especially the ‘contact’ sports which, in addition to karate, boxing, wrestling, and judo, must include rugby, association football and basketball.
contact time n. an amount or period of time during which persons meet in a particular relationship, as teacher with pupil, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > [noun] > amount of time in specific relationship
contact time1966
1966 Slavic & East European Jrnl. 10 323 These activities give the student contact time towards his 1000 hours.
1986 Teacher 2 June 1/5 (heading) Agreement needed on class size, contact time, says NUT.
Draft additions June 2016
contact sheet n. Photography (a) a sheet of photographic paper used in contact printing (rare); (b) a sheet of contact prints, esp. of all the images from a single roll of film.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > processing and printing equipment > [noun] > paper
printing paper1593
photographic paper1840
gelatin paper1851
surface paper1851
print paper1858
Saxe paper1864
tissue1873
carbon paper1878
bromide paper1885
print-out paper1893
mezzotype1894
printing out paper1895
silver paper1898
gaslight paper1899
multigrade1940
contact sheet1959
1959 Dunkirk (N.Y.) Evening Observer 21 Feb. 2/9 He can make contact prints from wet 35mm negatives... Try soaking the contact sheet in water and lay it on the wet negatives.
1972 I. Levin Stepford Wives i. 17 She..got out her magnifier and red pencil and the contact sheets of her quick-before-I-leave-the-city pictures.
2004 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 15 Jan. 5/1 Good pictures are extracted from contact sheets, so a photographer's extraordinary work needs to be culled from his merely good work.
Draft additions March 2008
contact high n. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.) a feeling of elation or intoxication influenced by the (esp. drug-induced) behaviour or mood of another person; (also) an instance of intoxication caused by (inadvertent) inhalation of smoke from another person's marijuana cigarette, pipe, etc.
ΚΠ
1958 J. Kerouac Subterraneans i. 29 And of junkies man, I hung around with them,..and I was getting, every time they turned on, a kind of contact high.
1977 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 3 Sept. b7/2 I felt higher than I had ever been and I had taken no drugs. Was it a contact high from three days around gurus?
1991 J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again 257 I have been smoking a joint in the van..and Joe O'Hare..has gotten a contact high.
2000 J. Williams Cardiff Dead (2001) xv. 198 Mazz fell in with a bunch of lads from Pontypool as he was walking up St Mary St and started to get a contact high from their elation.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
contactv.
/ˈkɒntakt/, /kənˈtakt/, U.S. /ˈkɑntæk(t)/ 1. transitive. To bring into or place in contact.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > be near to [verb (transitive)] > be in contact with > bring into contact with
touchc1300
applya1398
applique1558
appose1593
contact1834
1834 Eden in Fraser's Mag. XI. 644 The spark and the gunpowder contacted, and acting together, produce the explosion.
2. intransitive. To come into, or be in, contact.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > be near [verb (intransitive)] > be in contact
meet?a1300
touch?c1425
apply?a1439
abut1492
abut1826
contact1876
1876 J. Rose Compl. Pract. Machinist 297 So that each side of the drift will have contacted with each side of the hole.
3. transitive. To get into contact or in touch with (a person). Originally U.S. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > [verb (transitive)] > communicate with
to get to ——1853
to get on to ——1879
reach1886
to get through1917
contact1927
1927 Spectator 6 Aug. 212/2 Dreiser should not be allowed to corrupt his language by writing ‘anything that Clyde had personally contacted here’.
1929 L. F. Carr Amer. Challenged 61 Mr. Dickey contacted every family in three representative agricultural counties.
1935 A. P. Herbert What a Word! 100 A charming lady in the publicity business shocked me when we parted by saying ‘It has been such fun contacting you.’
1936 P. G. Wodehouse Laughing Gas ix. 95 The prospect whom I was planning to contact, as they call it in America, was leaning back in the arm-chair.
1938 Manch. Guardian Weekly 19 Aug. 148/1 Will you please retain your ticket until you have contacted Mr. ——.
1940 Times Weekly 27 Nov. 1/4 (advt.) Factory representatives in most parts of world. Contact your local trader.
1951 Good Housek. Home Encycl. 85/1 See that everyone in the household knows how to contact the nearest Fire Service, by telephone if possible.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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