Meanings
nounsupercontraction (plural supercontractions)
plural supercontractions
- The contraction (by up to 50%) of spider dragline silk in high humidity
The demonstration that in an in vivo fascia replacement model supercontraction can be overcome by suturing the silk mesh into a defect before releasing it from the frame, encourages the in vivo use of spider silk without the presence of a supporting scaffold.
2015 December 22, “In Vitro Evaluation of Spider Silk Meshes as a Potential Biomaterial for Bladder Reconstruction”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI - The contraction of textile fibres when treated with heat etc.
Origin
Cite this entry
APA
supercontraction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supercontraction
MLA
“supercontraction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supercontraction. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “supercontraction,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supercontraction.
Source: supercontraction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.