contraction
nounUK /kənˈtræk.ʃən/
US /kənˈtræk.ʃən/
A contraction is a short word made by joining two words together.
"Can't" is a contraction of "cannot".
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The process of becoming smaller or tighter.
The contraction of the balloon made it look tiny.
3. A strong tightening of a muscle.
She felt a contraction in her arm after lifting the heavy box.
4. A period when a country's economy gets smaller.
The factory closed during the economic contraction.