contraction
[ kuh n-trak-shuh n ]
/ kənˈtræk ʃən /
noun
an act or instance of contracting.
the quality or state of being contracted.
a shortened form of a word or group of words, with the omitted letters often replaced in written English by an apostrophe, as e'er for ever, isn't for is not, dep't for department.
Physiology.
the change in a muscle by which it becomes thickened and shortened.
a restriction or withdrawal, as of currency or of funds available as call money.
a decrease in economic and industrial activity (opposed to expansion).
Origin of contraction
usage note for contraction
Contractions such as
isn't, couldn't, can't, weren't, he'll, they're occur chiefly, although not exclusively, in informal speech and writing. They are common in personal letters, business letters, journalism, and fiction; they are rare in scientific and scholarly writing. Contractions occur in formal writing mainly as representations of speech.
OTHER WORDS FROM contraction
con·trac·tion·al, adjective non·con·trac·tion, noun o·ver·con·trac·tion, noun re·con·trac·tion, nounWords nearby contraction
Example sentences from the Web for contraction
British Dictionary definitions for contraction
contraction
/ (kənˈtrækʃən) /
noun
an instance of contracting or the state of being contracted
physiol
any normal shortening or tensing of an organ or part, esp of a muscle, e.g. during childbirth
pathol
any abnormal tightening or shrinking of an organ or part
a shortening of a word or group of words, often marked in written English by an apostrophe
I've come for I have come
Derived forms of contraction
contractive, adjective contractively, adverb contractiveness, nounMedical definitions for contraction
contraction
[ kən-trăk′shən ]
n.
The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.
The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
Scientific definitions for contraction
contraction
[ kən-trăk′shən ]
The shortening and thickening of a muscle for the purpose of exerting force on or causing movement of a body part. See more at muscle.
Cultural definitions for contraction
contraction
A word produced by running two or more words together and leaving out some of the letters or sounds. For example, isn't is a contraction of is not.
notes for contraction
An
apostrophe is generally used in contractions to show where letters or sounds have been left out.