Contact means touching or communicating with someone or something. When two things make contact, they meet or touch each other. A basketball player makes contact with another player when they bump into each other during a game. Your hand makes contact with a hot stove the instant you touch it.

The word also describes communication between people. When you contact your grandmother, you might call her on the phone or send her a letter. Teachers ask parents to contact them if there's a problem at home affecting schoolwork. Scientists search for contact with intelligent life in outer space, hoping to receive signals from distant civilizations.

You might hear about a contact lens, which is a thin, curved piece of plastic that sits directly on your eye to help you see better. In sports, contact can describe how physical a game is: football is a contact sport because players tackle each other, while golf is a non-contact sport.

When someone says “I'll be in contact,” they mean they'll communicate with you later. Contacts can also mean the people you know who might help you: a business owner might have many contacts in their industry who can offer advice or opportunities.