contraction
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Related to contraction: muscle contraction
con·trac·tion
(kən-trăk′shən)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.
a. Physiology The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
b. Any of a series of sudden and involuntary tightenings of the uterine muscles occurring before or during childbirth.
4. A period of decreased business activity.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
contraction
(kənˈtrækʃən)n
1. an instance of contracting or the state of being contracted
2. (Physiology) physiol any normal shortening or tensing of an organ or part, esp of a muscle, e.g. during childbirth
3. (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.
conˈtractive adj
conˈtractively adv
conˈtractiveness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
con•trac•tion
(kənˈtræk ʃən)n.
1. an act or instance of contracting.
2. the quality or state of being contracted.
3. a shortened form of a word or group of words, with the omitted letters often replaced in written English by an apostrophe, as isn't for is not, they're for they are, e'er for ever.
4. the change in a muscle by which it becomes thickened and shortened.
5. a decrease in economic and industrial activity.
[1375–1425; (< Middle French) < Latin contractiō=contrac-, variant s. of contrahere (see contract) + -tiō -tion]
con•trac′tion•al, adj.
con•trac′tive (-tɪv) adj.
con•trac′tive•ness, n.
usage: Contractions (isn't, couldn't, can't, he'll) occur chiefly, although not exclusively, in informal speech and writing. They are common in personal letters, business letters, journalism, and fiction; rare in scientific and scholarly writing. Contractions in formal writing usu. represent speech.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
con·trac·tion
(kən-trăk′shən) The shortening and thickening of a muscle in action. Contraction of the biceps of the arm causes the elbow to bend.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. | 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 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 enlargement, expansion - the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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'.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
إخْتِصار لِكَلِمَة طَويلَهتَقَلُّص، إنْقِباض
smršťovánístahovánízkrácený tvar/slovo
sammentrækning
összehúz ás
samandreginnsamdráttur
stiahnutie
büzülmekasılmakısaltma
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
contraction
[kənˈtrækʃən] n [muscles] → contraction f
(in output, economy, size) → réduction f
[word] → forme f contractéecontract killer n → tueur m à gagescontract killing n → meurtre m commanditécontract of employment n → contrat m de travailcontract of service n → contrat m de service
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
contraction
n
(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
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
contract
(kənˈtrӕkt) verb1. to make or become smaller, less, shorter, tighter etc. Metals expand when heated and contract when cooled; `I am' is often contracted to `I'm'; Muscles contract.
2. ( American ˈkontrakt) to promise legally in writing. They contracted to supply us with cable.
3. to become infected with (a disease). He contracted malaria.
4. to promise (in marriage).
(ˈkontrӕkt) noun a legal written agreement. He has a four-year contract (of employment) with us; The firm won a contract for three new aircraft.
conˈtraction (-ʃən) noun1. an act of contracting. contraction of metals; contraction of muscles.
2. a word shortened in speech or spelling. `I'm' is a contraction of `I am'.
conˈtractor noun a person or firm that promises to do work or supply goods at a fixed rate. a building contractor.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
con·trac·tion
n. contracción;
after - ___ → ___ ulterior;
deep ___ → ___ de fondo;
hunger ___ → ___ de hambre;
muscular ___ → ___ muscular;
spasmodic ___ → ___ espasmódica.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
contraction
n contracción f; Braxton-Hicks contractions contracciones de Braxton-Hicks, falsos dolores de parto; premature atrial — (PAC) contracción auricular prematura (CAP); premature ventricular — (PVC) contracción ventricular prematura (CVP)English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.