(1)(使)缩小(短)((cause to) become smaller or shorter)[I，I+prep(to)，T+n，T+n+prep(to)]：Water～s in cold weather.水在冷天收缩。Metal～s when cooled.金属受冷收缩。Our foreign markets are/business is～ing. (fig) 我们的国外市场/买卖越来越小。“Is not” often～s/can be～ed to “isn't”. is not 常/可被缩写成isn't。〖同〗condense，shorten;〖反〗expand，enlarge，lengthen;

(2)(使)收缩(变窄)((cause to) become tighter or narrower)[I，I+prep(to)，T+n，T+n+prep(to)]：The muscles of your arm～when you bend your elbow.弯肘时手臂肌肉收缩。The tunnel～s to a narrow passageway there.隧道在那里变成窄小的通道。～a muscle收缩肌肉;〖同〗 tighten，narrow;〖反〗 expand，swell，widen;

→ con′tractible adj 有收缩性的;con′tractile adj 有收缩性的;con′traction n 收缩;缩写;

【辨异】contract与condense、compress和concentrate的区别见 CONCENTRATE。