'Contraction' definitions:
Definition of 'contraction'
(from WordNet)
noun
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber) [syn: contraction, muscular contraction, muscle contraction]
noun
The process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together; "the contraction of a gas on cooling" [syn: compression, condensation, contraction]
noun
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'"
noun
The act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope [ant: enlargement, expansion]
Definition of 'Contraction'
From: GCIDE
- Contraction \Con*trac"tion\, n. [L. contractio: cf. F. contraction.]
- 1. The act or process of contracting, shortening, or shrinking; the state of being contracted; as, contraction of the heart, of the pupil of the eye, or of a tendon; the contraction produced by cold. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Math.) The process of shortening an operation. [1913 Webster]
- 3. The act of incurring or becoming subject to, as liabilities, obligation, debts, etc.; the process of becoming subject to; as, the contraction of a disease. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; -- as, plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation, etc. [1913 Webster]
- 5. (Gram.) The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is. [1913 Webster]
- 6. A marriage contract. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'contraction'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abatement,
- abbreviation,
- abridgment,
- alleviation,
- apocope,
- aposiopesis,
- attenuation,
- brachygraphy,
- clipping,
- coarctation,
- constriction,
- crasis,
- cutting,
- dampening,
- damping,
- decrease,
- decrement,
- decrescence,
- deduction,
- deflation,
- depreciation,
- depression,
- diminishment,
- diminution,
- dying,
- dying off,
- elision,
- ellipsis,
- extenuation,
- fade-out,
- languishment,
- lessening,
- letup,
- lowering,
- miniaturization,
- mitigation,
- narrowing,
- phonography,
- pruning,
- reduction,
- relaxation,
- sagging,
- scaling down,
- shortening,
- shorthand,
- simplicity,
- Speedwriting,
- stenography,
- stricture,
- subtraction,
- syncope,
- syneresis,
- tachygraphy,
- taper,
- tapering,
- truncation,
- weakening
Words containing 'Contraction'
- Contract,
- Contracted,
- Contractibility,
- Contractible,
- Contractibleness,
- Contracting,
- Contractive,
- contract in,
- contract out,
- contractable,
- Consensual contract,
- Contract system,
- Contract tablet,
- Dependent contract,
- Divisible contract,
- Innominate contracts,
- Literal contract,
- Parol contract,
- Simple contract,
- Unilateral contract,
- Wagering contract,
- adhesion contract,
- aleatory contract,
- bilateral contract,
- breach of contract,
- conditional contract,
- contract bridge,
- contract killing,
- contract law,
- contract of adhesion,
- contract of hazard,
- contract offer,
- contract under seal,
- employment contract,
- futures contract,
- gambling contract,
- labor contract,
- marriage contract,
- muscle contraction,
- muscular contraction,
- oral contract,
- output contract,
- purchase contract,
- quasi contract,
- requirements contract,
- service contract,
- severable contract,
- social contract,
- special contract,
- term of a contract,
- uterine contraction,
- premature ventricular contraction,
- To cover one's short contracts,
- braxton-hicks contraction,
- cost-plus contract,
- yellow-dog contract