The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is.
Tightening and shortening of the uterine muscles during labor. Contractions are what cause the dilation and effacement of the cervix, and push baby downward and out.
The tightening of a muscle. In labour, the strong, rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the uterus open up the cervix and push the baby out. Any contractions before labour begins are usually irregular and don't increase in intensity or duration.
A shortened form of a word, title, or phrase used for brevity.
A shortening or increase in tension.
A tightening of the uterus wall which helps to expel the baby from the uterus.
a short way to write two words as one by writing the two words together, leaving out one or more letters and replacing the missing letters by an apostrophe (cannot = can’t)
The tightening of the uterine muscles
The shortening or tightening of a muscle.
During labour, the muscles in the wall of the womb tighten and then relax more and more often. This causes the baby to be gradually pushed out.
a word formed by combining and shortening two words: e.g., isn't, can ‘t, we're.
(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' is a contraction of `will not'"; "`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'"
a combination of two words as one, such as "don't," "can't," and "isn't
an abbreviated version of a word or words
a shortened form of one or two words (one of which is usually a verb)
a shortened form of one or two words (usually verbs)
a shortened spelling of a word or phrase with an apostrophe substituting for the missing letters
a shortened version of a word
a shortened version of two words, thus "you are" becomes "you're"
a single word made by combining two other words using an apostrophe
a word made of two words that are put together and then made shorter
a word made when two others collide
a word (or set of numbers) in which one or more letters (or numbers) have been omitted
a word that has been squeezed in the middle, so to speak, but has retained one or more of its opening and closing letters, as with Mr
a word that is a shortened form of on or several words through the removal of one or more letters
a word that is formed by combining two or more words which often occur together in speech
a word, title, or phrase represented in shortened form for the purpose of brevity
The combination of two words into one by omitting certain letters and rep laci them with an apostrophe e.g. I will go there = I"ll go there, we are happy = we"re happy, she is wonderful= she"s wonderful
(dance) tightening of a muscle or group of muscles to cause flexion of a joint or body area
tightening of the uterus in a wavelike rhythm during labor.
The tightening or shortening of a muscle during a short period of time
When two words are run together into something shorter and easier to pronounce, such as "don't" for "do not."
sudden tightening of muscle
The act of shortening a muscle.
The shortening of the bladder muscle causing the bladder to get smaller and force urine out.
The development of tension within a muscle. The two kinds are isotonic, in which the muscle shortens as it becomes tense, and isometric, in which the muscle does not shorten as it becomes tense.
The shortening and tightening of the uterine muscle, working to dilate and efface the cervix and squeeze the baby through the birth canal.
A shortened form of a word or group of words: can't for cannot; they're for they are.
A word formed by shortening (contracting) two other words e.g. did not didn't they are they're it is it's
Permanent contraction of a muscle.
The shortening of a written or spoken word or expression by omission of one or more letters or sounds, such as can't
the rhythmic squeezing of the heart muscle that causes blood to be pumped out of the heart chambers and into the body. This contraction produces a heartbeat.
When the uterus tightens so that the cervix thins and dilates, making way for the baby to go through the birth canal.
The beat of the heart, caused by a quick shortening of the heart muscle and resulting in the pumping of blood to the rest of the body.
The tightening and shortening of a muscle.
A shortening of muscle fibers and muscle that produce movement around a joint.
when muscles tense and shorten it is called a contraction; cramps are caused by muscle contractions
During labor, the strong, rhythmic tightening of the uterus. Pre-laborcontractions are usually irregular and don't increase in intensity orduration.
when a muscle is used, it shortens and thickens (contraction) then relaxes and becomes longer and slimmer.
The shortening and lengthening of a muscle that occurs while performing an exercise.
Tightening and shortening of the muscle. Compare with extension.
The strong, rhythmic tightening of the uterus during labor. Regular strong and painful contractions dilate the cervix and push the baby through the birth canal.
Momentary tightening or shortening of a muscle.
Reduction in the size of muscle fibers or rhythmic tightening of muscles.
The tightening of the uterine muscle that occurs throughout pregnancy. When contractions become regular and painful during labor, they work to dilate the cervix and to push the baby through the birth canal.
The regular painful spasms of the muscles of the uterus that occur during labour.
The regular tightening of the uterus, working to dilate and efface the cervix and to push the baby down the birth canal.
In medicine (obstetrics), a contraction is a forceful and painful motion of the uterus as part of the process of childbirth. Contractions, and labor in general, is one condition that releases the hormone oxytocine into the body. Labor and lactation are the only conditions that require the use of oxytocine.
In traditional grammar, a contraction is the formation of a new word from two or more individual words. This often is a result of a common sequence of words, or, as in French, to maintain a flowing sound. However, contraction has gained a broader meaning both in linguistics and other areas of language research.