supistua

Supistua is a Finnish intransitive verb meaning to contract, become smaller, or tighten. It is used to describe processes where size, volume, or tension decreases, as well as situations where a condition or resource is reduced. The noun form is supistuminen, referring to the act or result of contracting. The related active verb supistaa means to contract or compress something, while supistuva is a participle form describing a contracting state.

Etymology and related forms: Supistua is formed from the verb stem supist- with typical Finnish intransitive suffixes; it is closely related to supistus, the noun for contraction, and to the transitive verb supistaa, which denotes the act of making something contract or compress.

Usage: Supistua is commonly used in physiological contexts to describe muscle or organ contraction, in physical or geometric contexts to describe shrinking or narrowing, and in figurative or abstract contexts to indicate reduction of capacity, resources, or scope. It appears in everyday language as well as technical writing describing processes where dimensions or tensions decrease.

Examples:

- Sydän supistuu pumppaamaan verta. (The heart contracts to pump blood.)

- Lämpötilan lasku saa kaasun tilavuuden supistumaan. (A drop in temperature causes the gas volume to contract.)

- Lihas supistuu tahdonalaisesti. (The muscle contracts voluntarily.)

Notes: Supistua contrasts with laajentua or laajentua, which mean to expand or widen. It is commonly used across medical, physical, and figurative contexts to indicate a reduction or tightening of a form, size, or amount.