Standard Lemma guide

contracture

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /kənˈtɹæktjʊə(ɹ)/
  • /kənˈtɹæktʃʊə(ɹ)/
  • /kənˈtɹæktʃə(ɹ)/
  • rhymes with -æktʃə(ɹ)

1

noun

Meaning 1

An abnormal, sometimes permanent, contraction of a muscle or skin; a deformity so caused.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: contraction, muscular contraction, muscle contraction

History

Etymology

From French contracture, from Latin contractura.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kontraktuura — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • French: contracture — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • German: Kontraktur — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Indonesian: kontraktur — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Italian: contrattura — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Japanese: 拘縮 (kōshuku) — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Polish: przykurcz — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Portuguese: contratura — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Romanian: contracție — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Romanian: cotractare — abnormal contraction of a muscle
  • Spanish: contractura — abnormal contraction of a muscle