ˌkän.(ˌ)trakˈtiləd.ē, -ətē, -i noun
also con·tract·ibil·i·ty kən.ˌtraktəˈbil-, ˌkän.-
( -es )
: the capability or quality of shrinking or contracting ; especially : the power of shortening or drawing into a more compact form possessed by living muscle fibers and to a less extent by many forms of living matter