Contractions: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฅ
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contractions

 

[ kษ™nหˆtrรฆkสƒษ™nz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

grammar

Shortened form of a word or group of words created by omitting one or more letters or sounds.

Synonyms

abbreviation, clipping, shortening

Examples of usage

  • "Can't" is a contraction of "cannot."
  • "I'm" is a contraction of "I am."
Context #2 | Noun

medicine

A decrease in the size of a muscle caused by a shortening of the fibers.

Synonyms

muscle spasm, muscle tightness

Examples of usage

  • Muscle contractions are essential for movement.
Context #3 | Noun

physics

The process of becoming smaller or denser under pressure.

Synonyms

compression, reduction, shrinking

Examples of usage

  • The contraction of a gas when cooled.

Translations

Translations of the word "contractions" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น contraรงรตes

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเค‚เค•เฅ‹เคšเคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Kontraktionen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kontraksi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะบะพั€ะพั‡ะตะฝะฝั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ skurcze

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅŽ็ธฎ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท contractions

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ contracciones

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kasฤฑlmalar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ˆ˜์ถ•

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชู‚ู„ุตุงุช

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kontrakce

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ kontrakcie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ”ถ็ผฉ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ kontrakcije

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ samdrรกttir

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะธั‹ั€ั‹ะปัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ™แƒแƒœแƒขแƒ แƒแƒฅแƒชแƒ˜แƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ yฤฑฤŸฤฑlmalar

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ contracciones

Etymology

The word "contraction" originated in the early 16th century, derived from the Latin word "contrahere" meaning "to draw together." It first appeared in English as a term in grammar, referring to the shortening of words through omission. Over time, the term was also adopted in medicine and physics to describe the shrinking or tightening of muscles or substances. The concept of contraction is fundamental in various fields, illustrating the common theme of reduction or compression.

See also: contract, contracted, contractible, contracting, contraction, contractor, contractors, contracts, contractual, subcontract, subcontracting.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,284, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.