1. The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.
2. 1. A word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds of a longer phrase.
   2. The formation of such a word.
3. Physiology. The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
4. A period of decreased business activity.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.