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contraction

/kənˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/noun3 syllables

Contraction means: (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber).

Synonyms for contraction7

noun, as in (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)

muscular contraction, muscle contraction

noun, as in the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together

compression, condensation

also used for contraction

acquiring, catching, syncope

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of contraction

expansion

What does contraction mean?4

noun

1

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

2

the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together“the contraction of a gas on cooling”

3

a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds“‘won't’ is a contraction of ‘will not’”

4

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

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with contraction?15

five syllables

dissatisfaction
Show 40 near rhymes
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Contraction in a sentence

  • An obstetrician estimates the progress of childbirth by measuring the time between each contraction.npvojtik
  • Contractions seems to be a slippery slope towards illiteracy.Dejo
  • Formal written English avoids contractions, such as you're, won't, and can't.Davellan
  • Rima's contractions are five minutes apart. Now she can go to the hospital.Amastan
  • She's having contractions. How dilated is her cervix?Amastan
  • Hiccups are involuntary contraction of the diaphragm.Amastan
  • My contractions last about forty-five seconds.unknown
  • How far apart are the contractions?CK

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of contraction

as a noun

plural
contractions