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The description of muscles, including the study of muscular contraction by the aid of registering apparatus, as by some form of myograph; myology.

Long-continued contraction of the pupil of the eye.

Producing myosis, or contraction of the pupil of the eye, as opium, calabar bean, etc. -- n.

a contraction of Never.

The point of attachment or end of a muscle which is fixed during contraction; -- in contradistinction to insertion. Origin of coördinate axes (Math.), the point where the axes intersect. See Note under Ordinate.

Promoting uterine contractions, or parturition. -- n.

, often having a spherulitic concretionary structure due to the curved cracks produced by contraction in cooling. See Illust. under Perlitic.

Peristaltic contraction or action.

ke wave motion of the intestines and other similar structures, produced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of their walls, forcing their contents onwards; as, peristaltic movement. -- Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly, adv.

A contraction of Photograph. [Colloq.]

nerve fibers, stimulation of which excites the vasomotor center, thus causing a stronger contraction of the arteries and consequently an increase of the arterial blood pressure; -- opposed to depressor. Landois & Stirling.

Preceding the systole or contraction of the heart; as, the presystolic friction sound.

of absolute alcohol and 53.71 parts of water," the apparent excess of water being due to contraction of the liquids on mixture. In England proof spirit is defined by Act 58, George III., to be such as shall at a temperature of 51º Fahrenheit weigh exactly the second, third, and fourth proof spirits respectively. -- P…

Swimming by the expansion and contraction, or lunglike movement, of the body, or of the disk, as do the medusæ.

nnul. The blessed Jesus . . . did sacramentally rescind the impure relics of Adam and the contraction of evil customs. Jer. Taylor.

A sense of chilliness, with contraction of the skin; a convulsive shuddering or tremor, as in the chill preceeding a fever. Rigor caloris ( Etym: [L., rigor of heat] (Physiol.), a form of rigor mortis induced by heat, as when the muscle of a mammal is heated to about 50ºC. -- Rigor mortis ( Etym: [L. , rigor of death]…

Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, making the opening more or less round in shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 11.

Modified by contraction of the lip opening; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 11.

Modifying a speech sound by contraction of the lip opening; labializing; labialization. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 11.

A contraction for is or (colloquially) for has. "My heart's subdued." Shak.