📖 WordNook

contraction

noun
  1. the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
  2. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
    muscular contraction
  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 process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
    “the contraction of a gas on cooling”
    compression