contracted Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb enter into a contractual arrangement
   undertake; contract.
   
2. verb engage by written agreement
   sign up; sign on; contract; sign.
   
   • They signed two new pitchers for the next season
3. verb squeeze or press together
   compact; compress; contract; press; constrict; squeeze.
   
   • she compressed her lips
   • the spasm contracted the muscle
4. verb be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
   take; contract; get.
   
   • He got AIDS
   • She came down with pneumonia
   • She took a chill
5. verb become smaller or draw together
   shrink; contract.
   
   • The fabric shrank
   • The balloon shrank
6. verb make smaller
   contract.
   
   • The heat contracted the woollen garment
7. verb compress or concentrate
   concentrate; condense; contract.
   
   • Congress condensed the three-year plan into a six-month plan
8. verb make or become more narrow or restricted
   narrow; contract.
   
   • The selection was narrowed
   • The road narrowed
9. verb reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
   reduce; cut; abbreviate; abridge; shorten; contract; foreshorten.
   
   • The manuscript must be shortened
10. adjective reduced in size or pulled together
    
    • the contracted pupils of her eyes

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