contractile

[kuh n-trak-tl, -til]

adjective

capable of contracting or causing contraction.

Origin of contractile

First recorded in 1700–10; contract + -ile

Related formscon·trac·til·i·ty

[kon-trak-til-i-tee] /ˌkɒn trækˈtɪl ɪ ti/, nounun·con·trac·tile, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for contractility

Historical Examples of contractility

Galvanism was tried without the patient showing any contractility.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885
Various
The contractility of the nerves was so strong that it could not be taken from him.
Thunder and Lightning
Camille Flammarion
It is produced by a loss of contractility of the intestinal wall.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
The cell substance is irritable, and is endowed with the power of contractility.
The Story of the Living Machine
H. W. Conn
We will close with a comparison between Glisson's irritability, and Bichat's contractility.
North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826
Various

British Dictionary definitions for contractility

contractile

adjective

having the power to contract or to cause contraction

Derived Formscontractility (ˌkɒntrækˈtɪlɪtɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contractility

contractile

adj.

1706, from French contractile, from Latin contract-, past participle stem of contrahere (see contract (n.)). Related: Contractility. Contractile vacuole is from 1877.

contractility in Medicine

contractile

[kən-trăk′təl, -tīl′]

adj.

Capable of contracting or causing contraction, as a tissue.

Related formscon′trac•til′i•ty (kŏn′trăk-tĭl′ĭ-tē) n.