Basic Details
Word: Contraction
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The act of becoming smaller or tighter, such as a muscle tightening. In grammar, a contraction is a short form of words, like can't for cannot.
Synonyms: shrinking, tightening, narrowing, reduction
Antonyms: expansion, enlargement
How to Spell Contraction
Syllables: con - trac - tion
Tricky part: The sound shun at the end is spelt tion, and the c before it belongs to contract. Students often write contracsion or contrction.
Watch out for: contracsion, contrction, contracktion
Memory tip: Contract a muscle and you get a contraction. Every letter of contract is still there, with ion tacked on.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The doctor explained how the contraction of the heart pumps blood.
Example 2: Railway tracks have small gaps to allow for expansion and contraction with the weather.
Example 3: Won't is a contraction of will not.
Fun Fact
Each heartbeat is a contraction of the heart muscle; a resting adult's heart usually beats about 60 to 100 times a minute.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the suffix ion to make a real word. Choose it.
ion
a) absorb
b) describe
c) reduce
d) contract
Show answer
d) contract. Contract simply adds ion; reduce, absorb and describe change their spelling first, as in reduction, absorption and description.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to contraction as used in the sentence:
On cold winter nights the contraction of the metal roof sheets makes a loud cracking noise.
a) shrinking
b) expansion
c) tightening
d) reduction
Show answer
b) expansion. Metal contracts in the cold and expands in the heat, so expansion is the opposite.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
A sudden tnoicrtcaon of her calf muscle forced the runner to stop just before the finish line.
a) contraction
b) contradiction
c) contribution
d) construction
Show answer
a) contraction. A sudden cramp is a contraction of the muscle; construction needs an s and a u, and contradiction a d and another i.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is a contraction?
a) isn't
b) this
c) is
d) not
Show answer
a) isn't
2. A contraction of a muscle makes it ____.
a) softer and warmer
b) weaker and thinner
c) tighter and shorter
d) looser and longer
Show answer
c) tighter and shorter
