contraction, n.
(contractions)
freq. cnt. 1
(contractions)
freq. cnt. 1
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
<noun.act> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
contraction muscle contraction muscular contraction
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
hypernym
hyponym
domain of synset (topic)
the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
<noun.act>
contraction
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
antonym
semantic pointers
hypernym
a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds
<noun.communication>
contraction
sample sentences
"`won't' is a contraction of `will not'""`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'"
semantic pointers
hypernym
the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
<noun.event>
compression condensation contraction
sample sentences
"the contraction of a gas on cooling"
lexical pointers
derivationally related form