constriction

American  

[kuhn-strik-shuhn] / kənˈstrɪk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of constricting.

2. the state of being constricted; tightness or inward pressure.

   Synonyms:

   stricture, contraction, compression

3. a constricted part.

4. something that constricts.

5. Phonetics. an articulated narrowing of the vocal tract that in consonants audibly obstructs the flow of air and in vowels defines an interconnection between or among resonance cavities.

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constriction British  

/ kənˈstrɪkʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of tightness in some part of the body, such as the chest

2. the act of constricting or condition of being constricted

3. something that is constricted

4. genetics a localized narrow region of a chromosome, esp at the centromere

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Other Word Forms

• constrictive adjective
• constrictively adverb
• constrictiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of constriction

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin constrīctiōn- (stem of constrīctiō ), equivalent to Latin constrīct ( us ) ( constrict ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Researchers also observed additional disruptions in eye turning during accommodation and reduced effectiveness of eye blinks in triggering pupil constriction in myopic eyes.

From Science Daily

Once activated, this process leads to airway constriction in people with asthma.

From Science Daily

Pupil constriction began roughly 12 seconds before CSF moved out of the brain and reversed after attention returned.

From Science Daily

“It is expected that there will be no pain, but there may be a feeling of constriction about the chest,” read the directions.

From Literature

“The president knows, and he and I have talked about the constrictions of the Constitution, as much as so many of the American people lament that,” Johnson said.

From Salon

Related Words

• narrowing