constriction

UK: /kənˈstrɪkʃ^ən/ US: /kənˈstrɪkʃən/ ,(kən strik′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•stric•tion /kənˈstrɪkʃən/   n. 

1. [uncountable] an act of constricting:
   Constriction of his powers had a bad effect on the whole company.
2. something that constricts:
   [countable] constrictions on his ability to get things done.
3. a feeling of tightness or squeezing:
   [countable* usually singular] He was suffering from a constriction of the chest.
4. the act of squeezing something:
   [uncountable] The boa kills its prey by constriction.
See -strict-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•stric•tion  (kən strik′shən), n. 

1. the act of constricting.
2. the state of being constricted;
   tightness or inward pressure.
3. a constricted part.
4. something that constricts.
5. Phonetics an articulated narrowing of the vocal tract that in consonants audibly obstructs the flow of air and in vowels defines an interconnection between or among resonance cavities. Cf. closure (def. 6).

• Late Latin constrīctiōn- (stem of constrīctiō), equivalent. to Latin constrīct(us) (see constrict) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 2. compression, contraction, stricture.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

constriction / kənˈstrɪkʃən/ noun

1. a feeling of tightness in some part of the body, such as the chest
2. the act of constricting or condition of being constricted
3. something that is constricted
4. a localized narrow region of a chromosome, esp at the centromere

conˈstrictive adjective