contraction

Noun
  1. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber) (synset 100370610)
    referred to in: physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms
    is a type of: shortening - act of decreasing in length
    subtypes:
    • contracture - an abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle
    • tetanus - a sustained muscular contraction resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses
    • uterine contraction - a rhythmic tightening in labor of the upper uterine musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the fetus toward the birth canal
    • braxton-hicks contraction, false labor - painless contractions of the muscles of the uterus that continue throughout pregnancy with increasing frequency
    • vaginismus - muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination
    same as: muscle contraction, muscular contraction
  2. The process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together (synset 107327841)
    "the contraction of a gas on cooling"
    is a type of: shrinkage, shrinking - process or result of becoming less or smaller
    subtypes: coarctation, constriction - tight or narrow compression
    same as: compression, condensation
  3. A word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds (synset 106300252)
    "`won't' is a contraction of `will not'"; "`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'"
    is a type of: word - a unit of language that native speakers can identify
  4. The act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope (synset 100366297)
    is a type of: decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down - the act of decreasing or reducing something

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