Dictionary Definition
constriction
Noun
1 a narrowing that reduces the flow through a
channel [syn: bottleneck, chokepoint]
2 tight or narrow compression [syn: coarctation]
3 a feeling of tightness in some part of the
body; "he felt a constriction in her chest"; "emotion caused a
constriction of his throat"
4 the action or process of compressing
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Noun
- The act of constricting, the state of being constricted, or something that constricts
- A narrow part of something; a stricture
- A compression
Translations
the act of narrowing
- Czech: zúžení
Extensive Definition
Snakes
Constriction is a method used by various snake species to kill their prey. Although some species of
venomous and mildly-venomous snakes do use constriction to subdue
their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom. The
snake initially strikes at its prey and holds on, pulling the prey
into its coils or, in the case of very large prey, pulling itself
onto the prey. The snake will then wrap one or two coils around the
prey.
Contrary to myth, the snake does not crush the
prey, or even break its bones. Traditionally, it has been
thought that snakes hold tightly enough to prevent the prey from
drawing air into its lungs, resulting in death from asphyxia. However, some prey
items seem to die faster than would be possible through asphyxia,
so it has also been suggested that the pressure of constriction
causes a rise in the pressure in the prey's body cavity greater
than the heart can counter, resulting in immediate cardiac
arrest. This new hypothesis has yet to be confirmed, but data
indicates that snakes can exert enough pressure for this mechanism
to be plausible. Research into this topic is ongoing.
Certain groups of snakes have characteristic
patterns of constriction, including the number of coils they use
and the orientation of the coils.
Other meanings
Constriction, the opposite of dilation or dilatation, also
refers to vasoconstriction, the
narrowing of blood
vessels caused by vascular
smooth muscle contractions.
Constriction can also refer to the act of binding
a victim with rope, either as a method of torture or sexual
bondage.
constriction in German: Konstriktion
constriction in Spanish:
Constricción
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
abbreviation, arrest, arrestation, arrestment, astriction, astringency, blockage, blocking, bottleneck, cervix, check, circumscription,
clogging, closing up,
closure, coarctation, compactedness, compaction, compression, compressure, concentration, condensation, consolidation, constringency, contraction, contracture, cramp, curtailment, decrease, delay, detainment, detention, diminuendo, fixation, foot-dragging,
hampering, hindering, hindrance, holdback, holdup, hourglass, hourglass figure,
impediment, inhibition, interference, interruption, isthmus, knitting, let, narrow place, narrowing, neck, negativism, nuisance value,
obstruction,
obstructionism,
occlusion, opposition, puckering, pursing, reduction, repression, resistance, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, setback, shortening, solidification, squeeze, stranglehold, stranglement, strangulation, striction, stricture, suppression, systole, taper, tapering, wasp waist, wrinkling