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1 VERB If you contribute to something, you say or do things to help to make it successful. □ [V + to ] The three sons also contribute to the family business. □ [V n + to ] He believes he has something to contribute to a discussion concerning the uprising. [Also V ]

2 VERB To contribute money or resources to something means to give money or resources to help pay for something or to help achieve a particular purpose. □ [V n] The U.S. is contributing $4 billion in loans, credits and grants. □ [V n + to/towards ] NATO officials agreed to contribute troops and equipment to such an operation if the U.N. Security Council asked for it. [Also V ] ●  con|tribu|tor /kəntr I bjʊtə ^r / (contributors ) N‑COUNT □ [+ to ] …the largest net contributors to E.U. funds.

3 VERB If something contributes to an event or situation, it is one of the causes of it. □ [V + to ] The report says design faults in both the vessels contributed to the tragedy. □ [V -ing] Stress, both human and mechanical, may also be a contributing factor.

4 VERB If you contribute to a magazine, newspaper, or book, you write things that are published in it. □ [V + to ] I was asked to contribute to a newspaper article making predictions for the new year. □ [V -ing] He is a contributing editor for Vanity Fair magazine. ●  con|tribu|tor N‑COUNT □ [+ to ] He covers Central America and is a regular contributor to The New Yorker.

con|tri|bu|tion ◆◇◇ /kɒ ntr I bjuː ʃ ^ə n/ (contributions )

1 N‑COUNT If you make a contribution to something, you do something to help make it successful or to produce it. □ [+ to ] He was awarded a prize for his contribution to world peace.

2 N‑COUNT A contribution is a sum of money that you give in order to help pay for something. □ [+ of ] …charitable contributions of a half million dollars or more.

3 N‑COUNT A contribution to a magazine, newspaper, or book is something that you write to be published in it. COLLOCATIONS contribution NOUN

1

adjective + contribution : important, major, outstanding, significant; positive, solid, valuable

verb + contribution : make; acknowledge, recognize, value

2

noun + contribution : employer, pension

adjective + contribution : charitable, parental, tax-deductible, voluntary

verb + contribution : increase, pay

con|tribu|tor /kəntr I bjʊtə ^r / (contributors )

1 N‑COUNT You can use contributor to refer to one of the causes of an event or situation, especially if that event or situation is an unpleasant one. □ [+ to ] Old buses are major contributors to pollution in British cities.

2 → see also contribute

con|tribu|tory /kəntr I bjʊtəri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A contributory factor of a problem or accident is one of the things which caused it to exist or happen. [FORMAL ] □  We now know that repressing anger is a contributory factor in many physical illnesses.

con|trite /kəntra I t, kɒ ntra I t/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are contrite , you are very sorry because you have done something wrong. [FORMAL ]

con|triv|ance /kəntra I v ^ə ns/ (contrivances )

1 N‑VAR If you describe something as a contrivance , you disapprove of it because it is unnecessary and artificial. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  They wear simple clothes and shun modern contrivances. □  Music with a tendency towards contrivance and lack of substance.

2 N‑COUNT A contrivance is an unfair or dishonest scheme or trick to gain an advantage for yourself. □  …some contrivance to raise prices.