Contraction — meaning, pronunciation & more

Definition

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

the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together

Pronunciation

🇺🇸American English

/kɹˈiːʃɪŋ/

🇬🇧British English

/kəntɹˈakʃən/

🇮🇳Indian English

/kəntɹˈakʃən/

3 syllables Say it as /kɹˈiːʃɪŋ/.

Examples

the contraction of a gas on cooling
`won't' is a contraction of `will not'
`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

condensation compression muscular contraction muscle contraction

Antonyms

expansion

Parts of Speech

noun	(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
noun	the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together “the contraction of a gas on cooling”
noun	a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds “`won't' is a contraction of `will not'”
noun	the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

Word Forms

contract	verb	squeeze or press together
compress	verb	squeeze or press together
condense	verb	become more compact or concentrated

Around the World

Europe

🇩🇪German

Kontraktion

(Physiologie) eine Verkürzung oder Anspannung eines Teils oder Organs (insbesondere eines Muskels oder einer Muskelfaser)

🇪🇸Spanish

contracción

(fisiología) un acortamiento o tensión de una parte u órgano (especialmente de un músculo o fibra muscular)

🇮🇹Italian

contrazione

(fisiologia) accorciamento o tensione di una parte o di un organo (specialmente di un muscolo o di una fibra muscolare)

🇳🇱Dutch

samentrekking

(fysiologie) een verkorting of spanning van een deel of orgaan (vooral van een spier of spiervezel)

🇵🇹Portuguese

contração

(fisiologia) um encurtamento ou tensão de uma parte ou órgão (especialmente de um músculo ou fibra muscular)

🇷🇺Russian

сокращение

(физиология) укорочение или напряжение части или органа (особенно мышцы или мышечного волокна)

India

🇮🇳Hindi

सिकुड़न

(फिजियोलॉजी) किसी भाग या अंग का छोटा होना या खिंचना (विशेषकर मांसपेशी या मांसपेशी फाइबर का)

🇧🇩Bengali

সংকোচন

(শারীরবৃত্তি) একটি অংশ বা অঙ্গের সংক্ষিপ্ত বা টান করা (বিশেষত একটি পেশী বা পেশী ফাইবার)

🇮🇳Tamil

சுருக்கம்

(உடலியல்) ஒரு பகுதி அல்லது உறுப்பை (குறிப்பாக தசை அல்லது தசை நார்) சுருக்குதல் அல்லது பதற்றம் செய்தல்

🇮🇳Telugu

సంకోచం

(శరీర శాస్త్రం) ఒక భాగం లేదా అవయవం (ముఖ్యంగా కండరం లేదా కండరాల పీచు) కుదించడం లేదా టెన్షన్ చేయడం

🇮🇳Marathi

आकुंचन

(शरीरशास्त्र) एखादा भाग किंवा अवयव लहान करणे किंवा ताणणे (विशेषत: स्नायू किंवा स्नायू फायबर)

🇮🇳Gujarati

સંકોચન

(ફિઝિયોલોજી) એક ભાગ અથવા અંગ (ખાસ કરીને સ્નાયુ અથવા સ્નાયુ ફાઇબરનું) ટૂંકાવી અથવા ખેંચવું

🇮🇳Kannada

ಸಂಕೋಚನ

(ಶರೀರವಿಜ್ಞಾನ) ಒಂದು ಭಾಗ ಅಥವಾ ಅಂಗವನ್ನು (ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಸ್ನಾಯು ಅಥವಾ ಸ್ನಾಯುವಿನ ನಾರಿನ) ಕಡಿಮೆಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು ಅಥವಾ ಬಿಗಿಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು

🇮🇳Malayalam

സങ്കോചം

(ഫിസിയോളജി) ഒരു ഭാഗത്തിൻ്റെയോ അവയവത്തിൻ്റെയോ (പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ഒരു പേശി അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പേശി നാരുകളുടെ) ചെറുതാക്കുകയോ പിരിമുറുക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുക

🇮🇳Punjabi

ਸੰਕੁਚਨ

(ਫਿਜ਼ਿਓਲੋਜੀ) ਕਿਸੇ ਹਿੱਸੇ ਜਾਂ ਅੰਗ ਨੂੰ ਛੋਟਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਜਾਂ ਤਣਾਅ (ਖ਼ਾਸਕਰ ਮਾਸਪੇਸ਼ੀ ਜਾਂ ਮਾਸਪੇਸ਼ੀ ਫਾਈਬਰ ਦਾ)

🇵🇰Urdu

سنکچن

(فزیالوجی) کسی حصے یا عضو کو چھوٹا یا تنگ کرنا (خاص طور پر پٹھوں یا پٹھوں کے ریشے کا)

East & Southeast Asia

🇨🇳Chinese

收缩

（生理学）部分或器官（尤其是肌肉或肌纤维）的缩短或拉紧

🇯🇵Japanese

収縮

（生理学）一部または臓器（特に筋肉または筋線維）の短縮または緊張

🇰🇷Korean

축소

(생리학) 일부나 기관(특히 근육이나 근섬유)이 짧아지거나 긴장되는 현상

🇻🇳Vietnamese

sự co lại

(sinh lý học) sự co lại hoặc căng ra của một bộ phận hoặc cơ quan (đặc biệt là cơ hoặc sợi cơ)

🇹🇭Thai

การหดตัว

(สรีรวิทยา) การทำให้ส่วนหรืออวัยวะสั้นลงหรือตึง (โดยเฉพาะกล้ามเนื้อหรือเส้นใยกล้ามเนื้อ)

🇮🇩Indonesian

kontraksi

(Fisiologi) pemendekan atau ketegangan suatu bagian atau organ (terutama otot atau serat otot)

🇵🇭Filipino

pag-urong

(physiology) isang pagpapaikli o pag-igting ng isang bahagi o organ (lalo na ng isang kalamnan o hibla ng kalamnan)

🇲🇾Malay

penguncupan

(fisiologi) pemendekan atau ketegangan bahagian atau organ (terutamanya otot atau serat otot)

Middle East

🇸🇦Arabic

الانكماش

(علم وظائف الأعضاء) تقصير أو شد جزء أو عضو (خاصة العضلات أو الألياف العضلية)

🇮🇷Persian

انقباض

(فیزیولوژی) کوتاه شدن یا کشش یک قسمت یا اندام (به ویژه یک ماهیچه یا فیبر عضلانی)

🇹🇷Turkish

kasılma

(fizyoloji) bir parçanın veya organın (özellikle kas veya kas lifinin) kısalması veya gerilmesi

🇮🇱Hebrew

צִמצוּם

(פיזיולוגיה) קיצור או מתיחה של חלק או איבר (במיוחד של שריר או סיב שריר)

Test Yourself1 / 3

What is the primary definition of the word 'contraction'?

The primary meaning of 'contraction' is '(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)'.

Which of the following sentences uses the word 'contraction' in a grammatically correct way?

Using 'contraction' in a noun/adjective form makes the first sentence correct.

In which domain is the word 'contraction' most likely to appear as standard vocabulary?

'contraction' is a standard word used primarily in general literature and formal communications.

Community Poll1 / 6

How often do you encounter the word 'contraction' in your daily reading?

Very Often

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Do you find 'contraction' easy to spell?

Yes, very easy

Somewhat easy

A bit confusing

Extremely hard

In your opinion, does the word 'contraction' have a positive, neutral, or gloomy tone?

Positive

Neutral

Gloomy

Vibrant

Which age group is most likely to use 'contraction' in regular conversations?

Kids (3-12)

Teens (13-19)

Adults (20-60)

Seniors (60+)

How likely are you to use 'contraction' in a professional email?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

Not very likely

Never

Would you classify 'contraction' as formal, casual, or slang?

Formal

Casual

Slang

Archaic

Pick an option to see how others voted