Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

contract

3
     
contract3

contract in

phrasal verb
1BB

contract somebody/something ↔ in

to arrange for a person or company outside your own organization to come in and do a particular job:
We contract in cleaning services.
2 formal to agree officially to take part in something:
The rules require all members to contract in.

contract out

phrasal verb
1BBB

contract something ↔ out

to arrange to have a job done by a person or company outside your own organization
contract something ↔ out to
We contracted the catering out to an outside firm.
2BEC British English to agree officially not to take part in something such as a pension plan
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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