- to make smaller or narrower, esp. at one place, by binding, squeezing, or shrinking; contract
- to hold in; limit; restrict
Origin of constrict
from Classical Latin constrictus, past participle of constringere: see constrain
verb
To constrict is to become narrower at one place, or to make something narrower or more restrictive.
When your throat begins to close up because of an allergic reaction, this is an example of a time when your throat constricts.
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"constrict." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict>.
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constrict. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict
constrict
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"constrict." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict>.
APA Style
constrict. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict
constrict
verb
con·strict·ed, con·strict·ing, con·strictsverb
transitive- To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing.
- To squeeze or compress.
- To restrict the scope or freedom of; cramp: lives constricted by poverty.
verb
intransitiveTo become constricted.
Origin of constrict
Latin cōnstringere cōnstrict- to compress ; see constrain .Related Forms:
- con·stric′tive
adjective
- con·stric′tive·ly
adverb
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"constrict." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict>.
APA Style
constrict. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict
Verb
(third-person singular simple present constricts, present participle constricting, simple past and past participle constricted)
Origin
- From Latin prefix con-, "with", + strictus, past participle of stringere.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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MLA Style
"constrict." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict>.
APA Style
constrict. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/constrict
Sentence Examples
- As men age, their hair follicles constrict, eventually growing shorter, finer hair and eventually ceasing to produce hair altogether, even though the follicles remain active.
- If you are taking medicines for allergies or a cold, stay away from medicines that promote sleepiness as this can cause the throat to relax too much and constrict the airway.
- If you plan to layer garments, consider buying your women's plus size rain coat one size larger than you normally wear for a roomy, comfortable fit that does not constrict your range of motion.
- It is often most obvious in flash photographs; since the pupil is exposed to a lot of light and the duration of the exposure is so short, the pupil does not have time to constrict.
- You either have to move the bra straps down your shoulders in order to expose your breasts, or you have to raise your bra, which can constrict your breasts causing you discomfort.
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WORDS NEAR constrict IN THE DICTIONARY
- constrict
- constricted
- constricteth
- constricting