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Webster 1913 Edition


Contractile

Con-tract′ile

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
contractile
.]
tending to contract; having the power or property of contracting, or of shrinking into shorter or smaller dimensions;
as, the
contractile
tissues
.
The heart’s
contractile
force.
H. Brooke.
Each cilium seems to be composed of
contractile
substance.
Hixley.
Contractile vacuole
(Zool.)
,
a pulsating cavity in the interior of a protozoan, supposed to be excretory in function. There may be one, two, or more.

Webster 1828 Edition


Contractile

CONTRACTILE

,
Adj.
Tending to contract; having the power of shortening or of drawing into smaller dimensions; as the contractile force of certain elastic bodies.

Definition 2024


contractile

contractile

English

Adjective

contractile (comparative more contractile, superlative most contractile)

  1. Capable of contracting, or of being contracted.

Derived terms


French

Etymology

contracter + -ile

Adjective

contractile m, f (plural contractiles)

  1. contractile