constrict

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kənˈstrɪkt/ UK /kənˈstrɪkt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to make narrower or tighter; to limit

Cold air can constrict the blood vessels in the skin.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make narrower or... tighten narrow compress squeeze contract cramp strangle

Opposites

dilate widen expand loosen relax

Word family

Forms constrictor

Derived forms constrictionconstrictorconstrictedconstrictive

Related forms constrain strict stringent restrict stringency

Etymology

From Latin constrictus, past participle of constringere ('to bind together, draw tight'), from con- ('together') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind').

constringere Latin stringere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# constrict

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kənˈstrɪkt/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈstrɪkt/

## Meanings
1. to make narrower or tighter; to limit

## Examples
- Cold air can constrict the blood vessels in the skin.

## Synonyms
- tighten
- narrow
- compress
- squeeze
- contract
- cramp
- strangle

## Antonyms
- dilate
- widen
- expand
- loosen
- relax

## Derived Forms
- constriction
- constrictor
- constricted
- constrictive

## Related Forms
- constrain
- strict
- stringent
- restrict
- stringency

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: constringere
- Root: stringere

## Etymology
From Latin constrictus, past participle of constringere ('to bind together, draw tight'), from con- ('together') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind').

## AI Etymology
Constrict is a verb meaning "to make narrower or tighter; to limit". Historically, it is from Latin constrictus, past participle of constringere ('to bind together, draw tight'), from con- ('together') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: constrict is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin constringere with Latin stringere. Close English family members include constriction, constrictor, constricted, constrictive, and constrain.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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