Noun
1. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
2. the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together;
"the contraction of a gas on cooling"3. 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'"4. the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope