Antonym: expansion. Similar words: contradiction, contract, contractor, social contract, traction, subtraction, retraction, detraction. Meaning: [kən'trækʃn] 
n. 1. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber) 2. the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together 3. a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds 4. the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope.
n. 1. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber) 2. the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together 3. a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds 4. the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope. 
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31 This was especially true as regards the period of contraction or depression, and the Great Depression dealt a decisive blow.
32 It is also possible to release stored energy suddenly, resulting in a violent reflex contraction of the back muscles.
33 And how has Cologne fared in the contraction of the art market worldwide?
34 Some rhythmic contraction waves propagated a short distance into the proximal oesophagus.
35 This contraction was most severely felt by the few employees in the smaller workshops.
36 These contraction sequences were associated with long periods of increased baseline pressure in the distal oesophagus.
37 This type of plastic allows for expansion and contraction during temperature changes.
38 These findings support the existence of a key L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway regulating gall bladder contraction.
39 The fast twitch fibres have a much higher contraction speed and are associated with dynamic bursts of energy.
40 If banks' liquidity ratios are now below the prudent minimum[sentencedict.com], they will have to make a multiplied contraction in credit.
41 Eight hours after octreotide injection, postprandial gall bladder contraction was partially restored.
42 Locomotion is effected by undulating waves of muscle contraction and relaxation which alternate on the dorsal and ventral aspects of the worm.
43 Markets produce unavoidable economic cycles of expansion and contraction. 4.
44 Our study also showed that postprandial gall bladder contraction was suppressed for at least four hours after octreotide injection.
45 At this stage the C- field is also ineffective in stopping gravitational contraction.
46 At the junction of nerves and muscles, these neurones control the contraction of muscles.
47 In the mid-seventies recruitment fell, and the process of overall contraction in teacher education began, and rapidly accelerated.
48 This results in excessive contraction of the muscles leading to death.
49 As expected[sentencedict.com], contraction frequency was considerably higher during the day.
50 The scalar products met in vector analysis are familiar examples of contraction.
51 A relationship will have one of two home bases, Dym says: contraction and betrayal, or resolution.
52 Therefore the contraction in demand engineered by the government only succeeded in adding to the unemployment problem.
53 Some of the illustrations of shattered pebbles attributed to thermal expansion and contraction are of flint and quartzites.
54 However, over-exposure to the arrestant is detrimental in that male and female complements lose their morphological identity due to chromosome contraction.
55 To these can be added the fourth century examples already mentioned, which clearly indicate some level of extra-mural contraction.
56 The word Internet is a contraction of international and network.
57 At eight hours after injection, about 70% of maximum gall bladder contraction was achieved at 45 minutes after the test meal.
58 To date, no data are available about the neurohumoral mechanisms underlying high amplitude propagated contraction onset.
59 Imports had fallen to US$4,010 million in 1990 as a result of contraction in internal demand caused by the recession.
60 One dialect reflects the reduction process by contraction alone, the other dialect by contraction or deletion.
More similar words: contradiction, contract, contractor, social contract, traction, subtraction, retraction, detraction, extraction, attraction, contractual liability, distraction, contraption, contravention, tourist attraction, magnetic attraction, fraction, refraction, infraction, practitioner, interaction, diffraction, contrition, contribution, transaction, concentration, on the contrary, displacement reaction, general practitioner, contra.