contractile

adjective

con·​trac·​tile kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl 

-ˌtī(-ə)l

: having or concerned with the power or property of contracting

contractile proteins of muscle fibrils

contractility

ˌkän-ˌtrak-ˈti-lə-tē 

noun

Examples of contractile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Importantly, the chemical brain and contractile network hypotheses aren’t mutually exclusive. —Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024

The winning entry: a rodent optic nerve head with astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red), and retinal vasculature (green). —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Oct. 2023

Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is an increase in muscle size due to an increase in sarcoplasm, the non-contractile material in muscle cells. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022

Sacromeres are made up of fibers called contractile proteins. —Alexa Tucker, SELF, 19 Aug. 2018

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin contractilis, from Latin contrac-, variant stem of contrahere "to draw together, reduce in size" + -tilis "characterized by (the action of the verb)" — more at contract entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing contractile

• contractile vacuole

Kids Definition

contractile

adjective

con·​trac·​tile kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl 

-ˌtīl

: having the power or property of contracting

a contractile cell

a contractile fiber

contractility

ˌkän-ˌtrak-ˈtil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

contractile

adjective

con·​trac·​tile kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl, -ˌtīl 

: having or concerned with the power or property of contracting

contractile proteins of muscle fibrils