contact [L, contingere, to touch] , 1. the touching or drawing together of two surfaces, as those of upper and lower teeth. The term is often used attributively, as in contact dermatitis and contact lens. 2. the moving together, either directly or indirectly, of two individuals so as to allow the transmission of an infectious organism from one to the other. 3. a person who has been exposed to an infectious disease. 4. physical touch.
