contractile Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite capable of contracting or being contracted
    • the contractile wings of an insect

WordNet

Con*tract"ile adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. contractile.
Definitions
  1. tending to contract; having the power or property of contracting, or of shrinking into shorter or smaller dimensions; as, the contractile tissues.
    The heart's contractile force. H. Brooke.
    Each cilium seems to be composed of contractile substance. Hixley.

Webster 1913