CONTRACTION

• (noun) the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

• (noun) (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)

  synonyms : muscle contraction , muscular 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 process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together

  "the contraction of a gas on cooling"

  synonyms : compression , condensation

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

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