contraction
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++con·trac·tion /kənˈtrækʃən/ noun 1. [countable]MB medical a very strong and painful movement of a muscle, especially the muscles around the womb during birth 肌肉挛缩；〔尤指分娩时的〕子宫收缩2 [uncountable]NARROW the process of becoming smaller or narrower 收缩；缩小；缩短 the contraction of metal as it cools 金属冷却时的收缩3 [countable]SLG a shorter form of a word or words 〔词的〕缩约形式 ‘Haven’t’ is a contraction of ‘have not’. haven’t是have not的缩约形式。
Examples from the Corpus
contraction• a contraction in economic activity• This type of plastic allows for expansion and contraction during temperature changes.• The final contractions are less painful and, indeed, pain varies a good deal between women and between births.• Further contraction, pit closures, and industrial erosion would certainly follow.• At this stage the C- field is also ineffective in stopping gravitational contraction.• This was especially true as regards the period of contraction or depression, and the Great Depression dealt a decisive blow.• Mary had started contractions, which were occurring every five minutes.• This contraction was most severely felt by the few employees in the smaller workshops.• They also promote sodium excretion and induce a mild volume contraction.con·trac·tion nounChineseSyllable
Corpus a of and movement painful a very muscle, strong
contraction
con‧trac‧tion /kənˈtrækʃən/
noun
1. [countable] medical a very strong and painful movement of a muscle, especially the muscles around the womb during birth
2. [uncountable] the process of becoming smaller or narrower:
the contraction of metal as it cools
3. [countable] a shorter form of a word or words:
‘Haven’t’ is a contraction of ‘have not’.
con‧trac‧tion /kənˈtrækʃən/
noun1. [countable] medical a very strong and painful movement of a muscle, especially the muscles around the womb during birth
2. [uncountable] the process of becoming smaller or narrower:
3. [countable] a shorter form of a word or words: