CONSTRICT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does constrict mean? 

• CONSTRICT (verb)
  The verb CONSTRICT has 2 senses:

1. squeeze or press together

2. become tight or as if tight

  Familiarity information: CONSTRICT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONSTRICT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they constrict    ... he / she / it constricts   
Past simple: constricted   
Past participle: constricted   
-ing form: constricting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Squeeze or press together

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

compact; compress; constrict; contract; press; squeeze

Context example:

the spasm contracted the muscle

Hypernyms (to "constrict" is one way to...):

tighten (become tight or tighter)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "constrict"):

choke; strangle (constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing)

prim (contract one's lips)

astringe (constrict or bind or draw together)

strangulate (constrict a hollow organ or vessel so as to stop the flow of blood or air)

convulse (contract involuntarily, as in a spasm)

convulse (cause to contract)

bear down; overbear (contract the abdominal muscles during childbirth to ease delivery)

choke; fret; gag (be too tight; rub or press)

choke; scrag (wring the neck of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

constriction (the action or process of compressing)

constrictor (any of various large nonvenomous snakes that kill their prey by crushing it in its coils)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become tight or as if tight

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

constrict; constringe; narrow

Context example:

Her throat constricted

Hypernyms (to "constrict" is one way to...):

tighten (become tight or tighter)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "constrict"):

astringe (become constricted or compressed)

strangulate (become constricted)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

constriction (tight or narrow compression)

constriction (a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel)

 Context examples 

It blocks the release of chemicals from nerve endings that make blood vessels constrict (get narrower).

(Catapres, NCI Dictionary)

It blocks certain enzymes that cause blood vessels to constrict (narrow).

(Lisinopril, NCI Dictionary)

Cozaar blocks the action of chemicals that make blood vessels constrict (get narrower).

(Cozaar, NCI Dictionary)

A technique to stretch or open a blocked or constricted portion of the esophagus.

(Esophageal Dilation, NCI Thesaurus)

A condition in which one side of the face is flushed, does not produce sweat, and has a constricted pupil and drooping eyelid.

(Horner syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

The short, constricted portion of the thigh bone between the femur head and the trochanter.

(Femoral Neck, NCI Thesaurus)

Administration of a drug within a portion of a tooth which is covered by enamel and which is separated from the roots by a slightly constricted region known as the neck.

(Intracoronal Dental Route of Administration, Food and Drug Administration/CDISC)

Losartan blocks the action of chemicals that make blood vessels constrict (get narrower).

(Losartan, NCI Dictionary)

Our blood vessels can constrict to conserve heat or expand to release heat.

(Brain cells that cool the body, NIH)

Normally, these vessels tighten (constrict) to reduce blood flow or relax (dilate) to increase flow.

(Hold the salt: gut reaction may impair the brains of mice, National Institutes of Health)