Definitions for Contractionkənˈtræk ʃən

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

con•trac•tion^*kənˈtræk ʃən(n.)

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 isn't for is not, they're for they are, e'er for
ever.
Category: Grammar
the change in a muscle by which it becomes thickened and shortened.
Category: Physiology
a decrease in economic and industrial activity.
Category: Commerce, Business

^* Usage: Contractions (isn't, couldn't, can't, he'll) occur chiefly, although not exclusively, in informal speech and writing. They are common in personal letters, business letters, journalism, and fiction; rare in scientific and scholarly writing. Contractions in formal writing usu. represent speech.

Origin of contraction:

1375–1425; (< MF) < L contractiō=contrac-, var. s. of contrahere (see contract ) +-tiō -tion

con•trac′tive•ness(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

contraction, muscular contraction, muscle contraction(noun)
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
compression, condensation, contraction(noun)
the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
"the contraction of a gas on cooling"
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'"
contraction(noun)
the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

contraction(noun)ənˈtræk ʃən
a short form of a word
"can't" is a contraction of "cannot."
contractionənˈtræk ʃən
a muscle movement that helps to push a baby out of its mother
Her contractions began that night.
contractionənˈtræk ʃən
reduction in size
a contraction of the work force

Wiktionary

contraction(Noun)
A reversible reduction in size.
contraction(Noun)
A period of economic decline or negative growth.
The country's economic contraction was caused by high oil prices.
contraction(Noun)
A shortening of a muscle when it is used.
contraction(Noun)
A strong and often painful shortening of the uterine muscles prior to or during childbirth.
contraction(Noun)
A shortened word or phrase, with the missing letters represented by an apostrophe.
contraction(Noun)
Contracting a disease.
The contraction of AIDS from toilet seats is extremely rare.
contraction(Noun)
Syncope, the loss of sounds from within a word.
contraction(Noun)
The acquisition of something, generally negative.
Our contraction of debt in this quarter has reduced our ability to attract investors.
contraction(Noun)
A distinct stage of wound healing, wherein the wound edges are gradually pulled together.

Origin: From contractio.

Webster Dictionary

Contraction(noun)
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
Contraction(noun)
the process of shortening an operation
Contraction(noun)
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
Contraction(noun)
something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; -- as, plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation, etc
Contraction(noun)
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
Contraction(noun)
a marriage contract