contraction

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con·trac·tion / kənˈtrakshən/ • n. the process of becoming smaller. ∎  the process in which a muscle becomes or is made shorter and tighter. ∎  (usu. contractions) a shortening of the uterine muscles occurring at intervals before and during childbirth. ∎  a word or group of words resulting from shortening an original form: “goodbye” is a contraction of “God be with you.” ∎  the process of shortening a word by combination or elision.

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