contraction
/kənˈtrækʃən/noun
mass noun
1- the process of becoming smaller收缩; 缩小：
the general contraction of the industry did further damage to morale
全面的工业缩减进一步打击了民心
count noun the manufacturing sector suffered a severe contraction.制造部门遭受了严重的萎缩。
1.1
- the process in which a muscle becomes or is made shorter and tighter（肌肉）收缩：
neurons control the contraction of muscles
神经细胞控制肌肉收缩
count noun repeat the exercise, holding each contraction for one second.反复练习, 使每次收缩维持一秒。
1.2
- count noun（一般作contractions）a shortening of the uterine muscles occurring at intervals before and during childbirth（分娩前和分娩时的子宫肌肉）收缩, 挛缩。
1.3
- the process of shortening a word by combination or elision缩约。
1.4
- count noun a word or group of words resulting from shortening an original form缩约词; 缩约形式：
'goodbye' is a contraction of 'God be with you'.
goodbye是God be with you的缩约形式。
词源
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractio（n-）, from contrahere 'draw together' （see CONTRACT）.