名词

1. (分娩时的)子宫收缩，宫缩
When a woman who is about to give birth has contractions, she experiences a very strong, painful tightening of the muscles of her womb.

2. (词的)缩约形式
A contraction is a shortened form of a word or words.

3. see also: contract

1. the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

2. (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)

Synonym: muscular contractionmuscle contraction

3. a word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds

e.g. `won't' is a contraction of `will not'
`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'

4. the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together

e.g. the contraction of a gas on cooling

Synonym: compressioncondensation