supercontractv.
/ˌsuːpəkənˈtrakt/, /ˌsjuːpəkənˈtrakt/, U.S. /ˌsupərkənˈtræk(t)/ Biochemistry and Textiles.
intransitive. Of a fibre or material: to undergo supercontraction. Also transitive: to cause to undergo supercontraction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > become reduced in size or extent [verb (intransitive)] > contract or shrink > specifically of hair or fibre
supercontract1938
the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > reduce in size or extent [verb (transitive)] > contract or shrink > specific hair or fibre
supercontract1938
1938 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 166 93 Normal fibres, under similar conditions of relaxation, supercontract by 50%.
1953 R. W. Moncrieff Wool Shrinkage xxv. 352 Fibres..which had not been treated with diepoxybutane in the phosphate buffer did not subsequently supercontract in metabisulphite.
1962 W. J. Onions Wool ii. 38 Steam set fibres are also resistant to boiling 5 per cent sodium bisulphite, which supercontracts untreated fibres.
1977 F. Kidd in R. S. Asquith Chem. Nat. Protein Fibers ix. 394 White skunk hairs..supercontract more in sodium metabisulfite than do human hairs.
2002 Nature 7 Mar. 37/1 Unrestrained spider dragline ‘supercontracts’ when it is wetted, causing its length to shrink by about half and its diameter to almost double.
Derivatives
ˌsuperconˈtracting adj.
ΚΠ
1939 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 16 Dec. 1187/2 Myosin, the chief muscle protein, shows a quite remarkable similarity to the labile or ‘supercontracting’ form of hair protein.
1973 New Scientist 31 May 533 Several invertebrates similarly possess ‘supercontracting’ muscle.
2002 C. R. Robbins Chem. & Physical Behavior Human Hair (ed. 4) iii. 145 Supercontracting agents like lithium chloride, which cause supercontraction with virtually no cystine reduction, can produce permanent hair straightening.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.1938