Main Entry: con·tract

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈtrakt also ˈkän-ˌtrakt\

Function: transitive verb

1 : to become affected with <contract pneumonia>
2 : to reduce to smaller size by or as if by squeezing or drawing together <treatment…inhibits spindle formation and contracts chromosomes—Ernst Mayr>
3 of a muscle or muscle fiber : to cause to undergo contraction ; especially : to cause to shorten and thicken

intransitive verb

1 : to draw together so as to become diminished in size
2 of a muscle or muscle fiber : to undergo contraction ; especially : to shorten and thicken

—con·tract·ibil·i·ty \kən-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē, ˌkän-\ noun, plural con·tract·ibil·i·ties

—con·tract·ible \kən-ˈtrak-tə-bəl, ˈkän-ˌ\ adjective