*constrict*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Constricted; p. pr. & vb. n. Constricting. ] [ L. constrictus, p. p. of constringere. See Constrain. ] To draw together; to render narrower or smaller; to bind; to cramp; to contract or cause to shrink. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such things as constrict the fibers. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

Membranous organs inclosing a cavity which their contraction serves to constrict. Todd & Bowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Drawn together; bound; contracted; cramped. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Contracted or compressed so as to be smaller in certain places or parts than in others. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. hindering freedom of movement.
Syn. -- binding. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. being reduced in width.
Syn. -- constrictive, narrowing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. constrictio: cf. F. constriction. ] 1. The act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from compression. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being constricted; the point where a thing is constricted; a narrowing or binding. [ 1913 Webster ]

A constriction of the parts inservient to speech. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving or tending to bind or constrict. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which constricts, draws together, or contracts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A muscle which contracts or closes an orifice, or which compresses an organ; a sphincter. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A serpent that kills its prey by inclosing and crushing it with its folds; as, the boa constrictor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Medicine, Physiology) A substance which causes constriction of the blood vessels. Such substances are used in medicine to raise abnormally low blood pressure. [ PJC ]