About The Word Contraction

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Learn about the word Contraction to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Contraction definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.

Contraction

Contraction Meaning & Definition
Contraction Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Contraction?

[n] (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
[n] 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'"
[n] the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together; "the contraction of a gas on cooling"

Synonyms | Synonyms for Contraction: compression | condensation | muscular contraction

Related Terms | Find terms related to Contraction: 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

See Also | Braxton-Hicks contraction | coarctation | constriction | contracture | false labor | shortening | shrinkage | shrinking | tetanus | uterine contraction | vaginismus | word

Contraction In Webster's Dictionary

\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 tendion; the contraction produced by cold. 2. (Math.) The process of shortening an operation. 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. 4. Something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; -- as, plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation, etc. 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. 6. A marriage contract. [Obs.] --Shak.

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