1. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fibre)
   "Regular exercise improves muscular contraction efficiency"; "The athlete's powerful muscle contraction propelled him forward";
   - muscular contraction, muscle contraction
    
2. The process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
   "the contraction of a gas on cooling";
   - compression, condensation
    
3. A word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds
   "‘won't’ is a contraction of ‘will not’"; "‘o'clock’ is a contraction of ‘of the clock’"
    
4. The act of decreasing (something) in size, volume, quantity or scope
   "The contraction of the metal in cold weather caused the bridge to creak"
    
5. (economics) a period of economic decline or negative growth
   "The country's economic contraction was caused by high oil prices"

Derived forms: contractions

Type of: decrease, diminution, reduction, shortening, shrinkage, shrinking, step-down, word

Antonym: enlargement

Encyclopedia: Contraction