shorten vs contract

shorten is not a noun while contract is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
shorten	No	No	Yes	No
contract	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, shorten and contract are synonyms defined as:

shorten and contract: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

Other synonyms of shorten include abbreviate, abridge, cut, foreshorten, reduce.

As verbs, contract is a hypernym of shorten; that is, contract is a word with a broader meaning than shorten:

Other hypernyms of shorten include abbreviate, abridge, cut, foreshorten, reduce, shorten.

shorten (noun)	contract (noun)
	a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid
	a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
	(contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make

shorten (verb)	contract (verb)
become short or shorter	be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration	make or become more narrow or restricted
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements	become smaller or draw together
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate	reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
make short or shorter	compress or concentrate
	enter into a contractual arrangement
	make smaller
	squeeze or press together
	engage by written agreement