Supistuvat

Supistuvat is the third-person plural present tense form of the Finnish intransitive verb supistua, which means to contract, shrink, or tighten. It is used when the subject is plural and the action described is a decrease in size or width. In everyday language, supistua covers physiological, physical, and figurative contractions, such as vessels narrowing or a group of objects becoming smaller.

Etymology and form notes: The verb supistua belongs to the Finnish class of -ua verbs with the present tense plural ending -vat or -vät, depending on vowel harmony. The base stem for the present tense is supistu-, and the full form for they contract is supistuvat. Related forms include supistun (I contract), supistut (you contract), supistuu (he/she/it contracts), supistumme (we contract), and supistutte (you all contract). The noun form supistuminen refers to a contraction or narrowing as a process or result.

Usage and context: Supistuvat commonly appears in biological and medical contexts when describing active constriction of body structures, such as blood vessels and muscles. It can also appear in physical or mechanical contexts to describe shrinking or tightening of components under certain conditions. Figurative uses exist as well, for example describing a group of options or margins that contract under pressure.

Examples:

- Verisuonet supistuvat vastauksena kylmään. (Blood vessels contract in response to cold.)

- Lihakset supistuvat hermoimpulssin vaikutuksesta. (Muscles contract under the influence of a nerve impulse.)

- Verkon reunat supistuvat lämpötilan noustessa. (The edges of the mesh contract as temperature rises.)

See also: supistua, supistuminen, supistuvuus.