shrink/ʃrɪŋk/USA pronunciationv.,shrank/ʃræŋk/USA pronunciation or, often, shrunk/ʃrʌŋk/USA pronunciation ; shrunk or shrunk•en/ˈʃrʌŋkən/USA pronunciation ; shrink•ing,n. v.
to (cause to) contract or lessen in size: [no object]clothes that shrink if washed in hot water.[~ + object]Hot water will shrink some of those clothes.
to (cause to) become reduced in extent, amount, or value: [no object]The bank's resources are shrinking.[~ + object]Inflation and taxation are shrinking our resources.
to draw back; move back suddenly, as in horror:[no object* (~ + back)]to shrink from danger; She shrank back in her seat as the horror movie got even nastier.
shrink(shringk),USA pronunciationv.,shrank or, often, shrunk; shrunk or shrunk•en; shrink•ing; n. v.i.
to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance:to shrink from danger; to shrink from contact.
to contract or lessen in size, as from exposure to conditions of temperature or moisture:This cloth will not shrink if washed in lukewarm water.
to become reduced in extent or compass.
v.t.
to cause to shrink or contract; reduce.
Textilesto cause (a fabric) to contract during finishing, thus preventing shrinkage, during laundering, of the garments made from it.
n.
an act or instance of shrinking.
a shrinking movement.
shrinkage.
Slang TermsAlso, shrinker. Also called head shrinker. a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychoanalyst.
bef. 900; 1955–60 for def. 9; Middle English schrinken, Old English scrincan; cognate with Middle Dutch schrinken, Swedish skrynka to shrink, Norwegian skrukka old shrunken woman
shrink′a•ble, adj. shrink′ing•ly, adv.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged withdraw, recoil, quail. See wince.
3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See decrease.
to contract or cause to contract as from wetness, heat, cold, etc
to become or cause to become smaller in size
(intransitive) often followed byfrom: to recoil or withdraw: to shrink from the sight of blood
to feel great reluctance (at)
the act or an instance of shrinking
a psychiatrist
Etymology: Old English scrincan; related to Old Norse skrokkr torso, Old Swedish skrunkin wrinkled, Old Norse hrukka a crease, Icelandic skrukka wrinkled womanˈshrinkableˈshrinkerˈshrinking
'shrink back' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):