contractile
adjective
con·trac·tile
kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl 
-ˌtī(-ə)l
: having or concerned with the power or property of contracting
contractile proteins of muscle fibrils
Examples of contractile in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Importantly, the chemical brain and contractile network hypotheses aren’t mutually exclusive.
—
Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024
The winning entry: a rodent optic nerve head with astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red), and retinal vasculature (green).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Oct. 2023
Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is an increase in muscle size due to an increase in sarcoplasm, the non-contractile material in muscle cells.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
Sacromeres are made up of fibers called contractile proteins.
—Alexa Tucker, SELF, 19 Aug. 2018
Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024
The winning entry: a rodent optic nerve head with astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red), and retinal vasculature (green).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Oct. 2023
Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is an increase in muscle size due to an increase in sarcoplasm, the non-contractile material in muscle cells.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
Sacromeres are made up of fibers called contractile proteins.
—Alexa Tucker, SELF, 19 Aug. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contractile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near contractile
Cite this Entry
“Contractile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contractile. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contractile
adjective
con·trac·tile
kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl
-ˌtīl
: having the power or property of contracting
a contractile cell
a contractile fiber
Medical Definition
contractile
adjective
con·trac·tile
kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl, -ˌtīl
: having or concerned with the power or property of contracting
contractile proteins of muscle fibrils
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