con·trac·tion 
/kənˈtrækʃən/ noun
plural con·trac·tions /kənˈtrækʃən/ noun 1 [noncount] : the act or process of making something smaller or of becoming smaller
▪ The hot metal undergoes contraction as it cools. ▪ Two teams were eliminated in the contraction of the baseball league. 2 [count] medical : a movement of a muscle that causes it to become tight and that is sometimes painful ; especially : a movement of muscles in the womb when a woman is giving birth to a child
▪ She felt contractions every two minutes. 3 [count] : a short form of a word or word group that is made by leaving out a sound or letter
▪ The word don't is a contraction of do not.
▪ The hot metal undergoes contraction as it cools. ▪ Two teams were eliminated in the contraction of the baseball league.
▪ She felt contractions every two minutes.
▪ The word don't is a contraction of do not.
