1 [U] the process of becoming or of making sth become smaller or shorter 收缩；缩小: the expansion and contraction of a muscle 肌肉的扩张与收缩

2 [C] a strong movement of the muscles that happens to a woman as her baby is born （女性分娩时的）子宫收缩

3 [C] a shorter form of a word or words （词语的）缩约形式: ‘Mustn't’ is a contraction of ‘must not’. mustn't是must not的缩约形式。