Contraction Definition
kən-trăkshən
contractions
noun
contractions
A contracting or being contracted.
Webster's New World
The shortening of a word or phrase by the omission of one or more sounds or letters.
Webster's New World
The formation of such a word.
American Heritage
The shortening and thickening of a muscle fiber or a muscle in action, esp. of the uterus during labor.
Webster's New World
A word form resulting from this (Ex.: she's for she is, aren't for are not)
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- compression
- condensation
- muscle contraction
- muscular contraction
- brachygraphy
- syncope
- shortening
- colloquialism
- flexing
- reducing
- abridgment
- decreasing
- evaporating
- deflating
- omitting
Other Word Forms of Contraction
Noun
Singular:
contraction
Plural:
contractionsOrigin of Contraction
-
From Old French contraction, from Latin contractiō.
From Wiktionary
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