Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Contraction has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
"The doctor explained that her abdominal pain was caused by the contraction of her intestinal muscles."
the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
"the contraction of a gas on cooling"
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'"
the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
"The company's latest strategy focuses on the contraction of its operations to reduce overhead costs."
A reversible reduction in size.
"After a few minutes of rest, his pained abdominal muscles finally relaxed from their painful contraction."
The word contraction comes from Latin, where it originally meant "a drawing together" or "shrinking." It entered English through Old French and Late Middle English with senses ranging from physical spasms to the act of shortening something.