contraction
[kən'træk.ʃən] noun uncountable
■when something becomes smaller or shorter 收缩；缩小；缩短•Cold causes contraction of the metal.金属遇冷收缩。 •The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.这块肌肉收缩使下臂抬起。 countable
■one of the very strong and usually painful movements of the muscles in the womb that help to push the baby out of the mother's body during the process of birth （妇女分娩时宫内肌肉的）收缩，痉挛；子宫收缩•She was having regular strong contractions every four minutes.她每四分钟有规律地强烈宫缩一次。 countable
■a shortened form of a word or combination of words which is often used instead of the full form in spoken English （英语口语中的）缩略形式•'Won't' is a contraction of 'will not'.won't 是 will not 的缩略形式。 |