A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; -- usually in the plural, A body of water with little width that connects two larger bodies of water, A part of a river or an ocean current that is not wide, adjective_ Limited in area or scope; cramped, Painstakingly thorough or attentive; meticulous, having a small width; not wide; slim; slender; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth, intransitive verb_ To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower, To limit or restrict, To reduce in width or extent; make narrower, transitive verb_ To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of, To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict