contraction
/kɒnˈtɹæk.ʃən/ · con·trac·tion
noun
- A shortened form of a word or group of words formed by omitting letters, often marked with an apostrophe. Don't is a contraction of do not.
- A shortening of a muscle when it is used. During the workout, his biceps experienced repeated contractions.
- A period of economic decline or negative growth. The recession was marked by a sharp contraction in manufacturing output.
- A reversible reduction in size, typically caused by compression. The rubber band underwent a contraction when the force was applied.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? Although 'contraction' entered English in the late 14th century, its grammatical sense referring to shortened words like "can't" only became common in the 16th century, when the apostrophe was popularized by printers.