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n; to effect; to cause; as, a fever induced by fatigue or exposure. Sour things induces a contraction in the nerves. Bacon.

Want of activity; sluggishness; -- said especially of the uterus, when, in labor, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased. Center of inertia. (Mech.) See under Center.

the beginning of a contraction or narrowing in a tube or cylinder.

ating influence of its nerve fibers, the response being indicated by a change of form, or contraction; contractility.

n its nerve is affected by some external body; esp., the act of exciting muscle fibers to contraction, by artificial stimulation; as, the irritation of a motor nerve by electricity; also, the condition of a muscle and nerve, under such stimulation.

A contraction of is it.

ed by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle; one of the so-called tendon reflexes. -- Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary. -- Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it. -- Knee tribute, or Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; wo…

ed by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle.

Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, as oo (food), o (old), etc., and as eu and u in French, and ö, ü in German. See Guide to Pronunciation,

The modification of an articulation by contraction of the lip opening.

To modify by contraction of the lip opening.

A spasmodic state of the glottis, giving rise to contraction or closure of the opening.

xisting without manifesting itself. (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed act…

d expulsion of air from the lungs. See Laugh, v. i. The act of laughter, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves. Sir T. Browne. Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter…

That which loosens; -- esp., a muscle which by its contraction loosens some part.

A contraction of the muscles of the jaw by which its motion is suspended; a variety of tetanus.

Madam; my lady; -- a colloquial contraction of madam often used in direct address, and sometimes as an appellation.

An organ which, by its contraction, produces motion. See Illust. of Muscles of the Human Body, in Appendix.

The department of physiology which deals with the principles of muscular contraction; the exercise of muscular force or contraction.

ining and recording the different phases, as the intensity, velocity, etc., of a muscular contraction.