The shortening of the long syllable. [1913 Webster]
The contraction of the heart and arteries by which the blood is forced onward and the circulation kept up; also, the contraction of a rhythmically pulsating contractile vacuole; -- correlative to diastole. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

systole, n. Physiol. the contraction of the heart, when blood is pumped into the arteries (cf. DIASTOLE).

Derivative

systolic adj.

Etymology

LL f. Gk sustole f. sustello contract (as SYSTALTIC)

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THESAURUS

systole

abbreviation, arsis, astriction, astringency, beat, bottleneck, bout, cervix, circle, circuit, circumscription, coarctation, compactedness, compaction, compression, compressure, concentration, condensation, consolidation, constriction, constringency, contraction, contracture, course, curtailment, cycle, decrease, diastole, diminuendo, downbeat, hourglass, hourglass figure, isthmus, knitting, narrow place, narrowing, neck, puckering, pulse, pursing, reduction, revolution, rotation, round, series, shortening, solidification, spell, stranglement, strangulation, striction, stricture, thesis, turn, upbeat, wasp waist, wheel, wrinkling

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ROGET THESAURUS

systole

Contraction

N contraction, reduction, diminution, decrease of size, defalcation, decrement, lessening, shrinking, compaction, tabes, collapse, emaciation, attenuation, tabefaction, consumption, marasmus, atrophy, systole, neck, hourglass, condensation, compression, compactness, compendium, squeezing, strangulation, corrugation, astringency, astringents, sclerotics, contractility, compressibility, coarctation, inferiority in size, contracting, astringent, shrunk, contracted, strangulated, tabid, wizened, stunted, waning, neap, compact, unexpanded &c (expand), contractile, compressible, smaller &c (small).

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