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Glite Dictionary
🌀 Can shrink to point ✂️ Can be shortened 💪 Ability to shorten
contractibility

contractibility

9.9
A space you can shrink continuously to a single point without tearing
  • noun
  • /kənˌtræktəˈbɪləti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : contractibilidad
  • In topology, contractibility refers to the property of a space that can be continuously shrunk to a single point without breaking.

Examples

  • A topological space's contractibility indicates that it can be transformed into a single point through continuous deformation.

  • According to Stanford (1979) and Sun (2004c), stabilizability is equivalent to precontractibility, while contractibility (with respect to the 2-norm) is a sufficient condition for stabilizability.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The contractibility of the rubber band means it can be stretched and then returned to its original shape.

Surface Forms

contractibility singular
contractibilities plural

Morphology

contractibility = contractible (opaque) = contract + ible + ity

Formed regularly from 'contractible' + '-ity', but the specific technical meaning in topology is specialized and not predictable by a general learner.

Etymology

Contractibility comes from the parts con- 'together' and tract 'pull', the same root you see in tractor. In math it means a space you can 'pull together' or shrink down to a single point, which is why the name fits.