CONTRACTION, n. [L.] 1. The act of drawing together, or shrinking; the act of shortening, narrowing or lessening extent or dimensions, by causing the parts of a body to approach nearer to each other; the state of being contracted.Oil of vitriol will throw the stomach into involuntary contractions.The contraction of the heart is called systole.Some things induce a contraction of the nerves.2. The act of shortening, abridging, or reducing within a narrower compass by any means. A poem may be improved by omissions or contractions.3. In grammar, the shortening of a word, by the omission of a letter or syllable; as, cant for cannot; burst for bursted or bursten; Swedish and Danish ord, a word.4. A contract; marriage contract. [Not used.]5. Abbreviation. |
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In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
