Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
     
Lookup History
contraction

con·trac·tion

contraction

 
pronunciation:
kn traek shn
features:
Word Combinations (noun)
part of speech: noun
inflections: contractions
definition 1: an act of contracting.
synonyms:
constriction, shortening, tightening
antonyms:
expansion, extension
similar words:
compression, flexion, narrowing, reduction, shrinking, squeeze, taper
definition 2: the result of such an act.
synonyms:
construction, shortening, shrinkage, tightening
antonyms:
extension
similar words:
compactness, compression, decrease, diminution, reduction, tightness
definition 3: a shortened form of a word or words, generally containing an apostrophe in the written form to represent missing letters. Contractions reflect the elimination of certain sounds as well as, in some cases, changes in sound and spelling, as when the vowel pronunciation changes in the case of "will not" being shortened to "won't."
"Can't" is a contraction of "cannot".
See a movie for this meaning
 
synonyms:
shortening, syncope
similar words:
elision
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature