• noun:   the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
• noun:   (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
• noun:   a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds

  Example: "`won't' is a contraction of `will not'"

• noun:   the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together

  Example: "The contraction of a gas on cooling"

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