contraction Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
    muscular contraction; muscle contraction.
  2. noun the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
    condensation; compression.
    • the contraction of a gas on cooling
  3. noun 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. noun the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

WordNet

Con*trac"tion noun
Etymology
L. contractio: cf. F. contraction.
Definitions
  1. 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 tendion; the contraction produced by cold.
  2. (Math.) The process of shortening an operation.
  3. The act of incurring or becoming subject to, as liabilities, obligation, debts, etc.; the process of becoming subject to; as, the contraction of a disease.
  4. Something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; -- as, plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation, etc.
  5. (Gram.) The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is.
  6. A marriage contract. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913