contractile

[ kuh n-trak-tl, -til ]
/ kənˈtræk tl, -tɪl /

adjective

capable of contracting or causing contraction.

Origin of contractile

First recorded in 1700–10; contract + -ile

OTHER WORDS FROM contractile

con·trac·til·i·ty [kon-trak-til-i-tee] /ˌkɒn trækˈtɪl ɪ ti/, noun un·con·trac·tile, adjective

Words nearby contractile

contract practice, contractarianism, contracted, contracted kidney, contracted pelvis, contractile, contractile vacuole, contraction, contraction joint, contractive, contractor

Example sentences from the Web for contractile

British Dictionary definitions for contractile

contractile
/ (kənˈtræktaɪl) /

adjective

having the power to contract or to cause contraction

Derived forms of contractile

contractility (ˌkɒntrækˈtɪlɪtɪ), noun

Medical definitions for contractile

contractile
[ kən-trăk′təl, -tīl′ ]

adj.

Capable of contracting or causing contraction, as a tissue.

Other words from contractile

con′trac•til′i•ty (kŏn′trăk-tĭl′ĭ-tē) n.