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
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
Exploiting this phenomenon, researchers have created contractile units that can be arranged in stacks to generate significant forces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Aug. 2016
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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
Exploiting this phenomenon, researchers have created contractile units that can be arranged in stacks to generate significant forces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Aug. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Contractile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contractile. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contractile
adjective
con·trac·tile
kən-ˈtrak-tᵊl
-ˌtīl
: having the power or property of contracting
a contractile cell
a contractile fiber
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
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