contraction

con·trac·tion  (kn-trkshn)

n.

1. The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.

2.

a. A word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds of a longer phrase.

b. The formation of such a word.

3. Physiology The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.

4. A period of decreased business activity.

---

contraction [kənˈtrækʃən]

n

1. an instance of contracting or the state of being contracted

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) Physiol any normal shortening or tensing of an organ or part, esp of a muscle, e.g. during childbirth

3. (Medicine / Pathology) Pathol any abnormal tightening or shrinking of an organ or part

4. (Linguistics) a shortening of a word or group of words, often marked in written English by an apostrophe I've come for I have come

contractive  adj

contractively  adv

contractiveness  n

---

contraction  (kn-trkshn)

The shortening and thickening of a muscle for the purpose of exerting force on or causing movement of a body part. See more at muscle.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	contraction - (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber) muscle contraction, muscular contraction shortening - act of decreasing in length; "the dress needs shortening" contracture - an abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle tetanus - a sustained muscular contraction resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses uterine contraction - a rhythmic tightening in labor of the upper uterine musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the fetus toward the birth canal Braxton-Hicks contraction, false labor - painless contractions of the muscles of the uterus that continue throughout pregnancy with increasing frequency vaginismus - muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms
	2.	contraction - the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together; "the contraction of a gas on cooling" compression, condensation shrinkage, shrinking - process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage" coarctation, constriction - tight or narrow compression
	3.	contraction - a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds; "`won't' is a contraction of `will not'"; "`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'" word - a unit of language that native speakers can identify; "words are the blocks from which sentences are made"; "he hardly said ten words all morning"
	4.	contraction - the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope reduction, step-down, diminution, decrease - the act of decreasing or reducing something enlargement, expansion - the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

---

contraction

noun

1. tightening, narrowing, tensing, shortening, drawing in, constricting, shrinkage Cramp is caused by contraction of the muscles.

2. abbreviation, reduction, shortening, compression, diminution, constriction, elision `It's' is a contraction of `it is'.

Translations

contraction [kənˈtrækʃən] N → contracción f

contraction [kənˈtrækʃ^ən] n

[muscles] → contraction f

(in output, economy, size) → réduction f

[word] → forme f contractée
contract killer n → tueur m à gages
contract killing n → meurtre m commandité
contract of employment n → contrat m de travail
contract of service n → contrat m de service

contraction

n

(of metal, muscles) → Zusammenziehen nt, → Zusammenziehung f; (fig) → Schrumpfung f

(Ling) → Kontraktion f

(in childbirth) (labour) contractions → (Geburts)wehen pl; the contractions are coming strong → die Wehen sind stark

(form: = acquisition, of debts) → Ansammlung f; (of habit) → Entwicklung f, → Annahme f; his contraction of polio → seine Erkrankung an Kinderlähmung

contraction [kənˈtrækʃ/ən] n → contrazione f; (of metal) → restringimento

---

contraction [kənˈtrækʃ/ən] n → contrazione f; (of metal) → restringimento