contracting
verb
Definitions
To draw together or nearer; to shorten, narrow, or lessen.
Example: The snail's body contracted into its shell.
(grammar) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.
Example: The word "cannot" is often contracted into "can't".
To enter into a contract with.
To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for.
noun
Definitions
The act of something that contracts or shrinks; contraction.
Example: the contractings of his muscles
Work done on a contract basis.
adjective
Definitions
Getting smaller; drawing itself together into a smaller area.