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contraction
(redirected from muscle, changes in striation bands contraction)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
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.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.contraction - (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
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"
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] Ncontracción f
contraction [kənˈtrækʃən] n
[muscles] → contraction f
(in output, economy, size)réduction f
[word] → forme f contractée
contract killer ntueur m à gages
contract killing nmeurtre m commandité
contract of employment ncontrat m de travail
contract of service ncontrat 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 strongdie Wehen sind stark
(form: = acquisition, of debts) → Ansammlung f; (of habit)Entwicklung f, → Annahme f; his contraction of polioseine Erkrankung an Kinderlähmung
contraction [kənˈtrækʃn] ncontrazione f; (of metal) → restringimento
contraction [kənˈtrækʃn] ncontrazione f; (of metal) → restringimento


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