A shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of internal letters.
Painful rhythmic motion of the muscles of the uterus before and during childbirth.
the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together: "the contraction of a gas on cooling"
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds: "won't" from "will not"; "o'clock" from "of the clock"
the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
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 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
the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
