| actin |
any of a group of contractile proteins, including proteins involved in muscle contraction, cell motility, and maintenance of cellular shape. |
| contractile |
able to contract or cause contraction. |
| convulsion |
a violent, involuntary, spasmodic contraction of the muscles. [1/3 definitions] |
| cramp1 |
(sometimes pl.) a painful and debilitating contraction or spasm of any muscle of the body. [1/3 definitions] |
| creatine |
a compound found in muscle primarily as phosphocreatine, which supplies energy for muscle contraction. Creatine can be taken as a dietary supplement. |
| frown |
a contraction of the forehead, as in anger, displeasure, or perplexity; scowl. [1/5 definitions] |
| gonna |
contraction of "going to" used in some types of writing to reflect how the two words of the expression "be going to" are often pronounced in rapid, informal speech. |
| heartbeat |
a single expansion and contraction of a heart. |
| incubation |
the period between the contraction of an infection and the first appearance of symptoms. [1/2 definitions] |
| isometric |
of or pertaining to the contraction or exercise of the muscles by exerting them against fixed objects. [1/4 definitions] |
| kinda |
contraction of "kind of," used in some kinds of writing to reflect how the two words are often pronounced in rapid, informal speech (used as an adverb). |
| miosis |
severe contraction of the pupil of the eye. (Cf. mydriasis.) |
| myosin |
any of a family of proteins that hydrolyzes ATP to produce motion, as in muscle contraction. |
| phosphocreatine |
a form of creatine containing phosphate that supplies energy for muscle contraction. |
| plasmolysis |
the contraction of a cell's protoplasm, esp. in plants, because of the loss of water through the cell membrane or wall. |
| shrink |
an act or instance of contraction or reduction in size. [2/7 definitions] |
| sorta |
contraction of "sort of" used in some kinds of writing to reflect how the two words are often pronounced in rapid, informal speech (used as an adverb). |
| spasm |
a sudden uncontrolled contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. [1/2 definitions] |
| spasticity |
a condition of sudden and uncontrolled contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. |
| spastic paralysis |
a condition in which certain muscles remain in a state of continuous contraction, causing rigidity of moving parts and exaggerated tendon reflexes. |
| steady state theory |
the cosmologic theory, no longer in favor, that new matter is continuously created, causing the universe to expand without requiring cycles of explosion and contraction. (Cf. big bang theory.) |