When cooled, the metal rod will contract slightly, so engineers must account for thermal expansion in bridge design.
冷却时，金属棒会略微收缩，因此工程师在设计桥梁时必须考虑热膨胀。
Which choice best defines “contract”?
C — A written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter. “contract” means a written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter.
Which word means “a written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter”?
A — contract. “contract” means a written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter.
contract — a written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter. In Chinese: 合同；收缩.
contract is pronounced /ˈkɒntrækt (n.), kənˈtrækt (v.)/.
When cooled, the metal rod will contract slightly, so engineers must account for thermal expansion in bridge design. (冷却时，金属棒会略微收缩，因此工程师在设计桥梁时必须考虑热膨胀。)
agreement, compact, shrink — all close in meaning to contract (a written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter).
expand, grow — each the opposite of contract (a written or spoken agreement; v. to make something smaller or shorter).
Yes. contract is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.