/keuhn strikt"/ , v.t.
1. to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.
2. to slow or stop the natural course or development of: Greed and aggressiveness constricted the nation's cultural life.
[ 1375-1425 for earlier ptp. sense; 1725-35 for current senses; late ME constrictus (ptp. of constringere to draw together, tie up), equiv. to con- CON- + stric- (var. s. of stringere to tie; see STRICT) + -tus ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 1. cramp, squeeze, bind, tighten.
Ant. 1. expand.