contraction

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con|trac|tion /kəntr'ækʃən/ (contractions)
1 [N-COUNT]
When a woman who is about to give birth has contractions, she experiences a very strong, painful tightening of the muscles of her womb.
2 [N-COUNT]
A contraction is a shortened form of a word or words.
`It's' (with an apostrophe) should be used only as a contraction for `it is'.
3
see also contract

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