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English to English noun
| 1 |
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber) |  | source: wordnet30
| 2 |
the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together | | Example: the contraction of a gas on cooling
source: wordnet30
| 3 |
a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds | | Example: `won't' is a contraction of `will not'
`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'
source: wordnet30
| 4 |
the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope | | source: wordnet30
| 5 |
The act or process of contracting, shortening, or shrinking; the state of being contracted; as, contraction of the heart, of the pupil of the eye, or of a tendon; the contraction produced by cold. | | source: webster1913
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