See Also: shrink(1)(dictionary)
shrink(2)(dictionary)
shrink 1, verb(dictionary)
shrink 2, noun(dictionary)
shrink-wrapped(dictionary)

shrink(2) (iou)



shrink verb. . See also SHRUNK, shrunken ppl adjectives.

I. verb intrans.
Wrinkle or shrivel permanently through old age, disease, etc.; wither away. Formerly also fig. (rare), pine away. Now chiefly as SHRUNKEN. OE.
Contract or diminish physically, esp. through contact with heat, cold, or wet; spec. (a) draw in or curl up the body in pain or discomfort; (b) (of a textile) contract when wetted. Also foll. by into, to, up. OE.
R. L. Stevenson Our western gable, where the boards had shrunk and separated. E. Bowen Her cotton frock..had shrunk in the wash. F. Norris The shadows of these trees had shrunk..contracting close about the trunks.
b. Diminish in scope or significance. Also foll. by into, to. LME.
G. Greene Wormold's cheque shrank to insignificance in his fingers. Fortune Years of expansion have shrunk the number of unemployed from..12 million..to 6.3 million.
Draw back or recoil physically in fear or disgust; flinch, wince, cower. Also foll. by at, back, from. ME.
E. Waugh Any who have heard that sound will shrink at the recollection of it. J. Agee Richard shrank as small against the wall as he could. R. Silverberg Shrinking back from him as though..afraid she'd catch a disease.
b. fig. Refuse or be reluctant to act, esp. from fear, dislike, or disgust; recoil at or from an action, thought, etc. LME.
D. L. Sayers A course of deception from which her conscience shrank appalled. F. King My father shrank from hurting feelings with a complaint.
c. Shiver, shudder. Only as shrinking ppl adjective. rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.
Withdraw to a position of safety or shelter; draw inwards for protection. Also foll. by in, into. LME.
A. Radcliffe I shrink into my cell again for terror of the sound.
Withdraw from a position secretly or furtively; slip or slink away. Also foll. by away, back, from. LME.
B. Bettelheim Children who..try to shrink away when confronted with danger.
b. Withdraw one's support or allegiance; abandon one's duty. Also foll. by away, from. M-L16.
c. Of the wind: blow fitfully. E17-E18.
II. verb trans.
Cause to contract or diminish physically, esp. by applying heat, cold, or wet; cause to wrinkle or shrivel; spec. (a) draw in or curl up (the body, oneself), esp. in pain or discomfort; (b) cause (a textile) to contract by wetting, esp. during manufacture to prevent further shrinkage. LME.
C. Lamb Death does not shrink up his human victim at this rate. F. T. Buckland A human head..by some process..shrunk to about the size of a large orange.
b. Fit (a piece of machinery etc.) tightly on or on to another by expanding it with heat and then cooling it rapidly after positioning. M19.
a. Draw back or retract (a hand, claw, etc.). Also foll. by back, in. LME-E18.
b. Draw (the head) aside or down in shame or reticence. Now rare. L15.
Shun, avoid. E16-L17.
Reduce in number, extent, scope, or significance. Also foll. by into, to. E17.
Carlyle Logical cobwebbery shrinks itself together.
Phrases: shrink up one's shoulders shrug one's shoulders; fig. (foll. by at) regard with dislike or indifference. shrinking violet a person who is shy or modest, esp. exaggeratedly so. shrink into oneself become withdrawn. shrunk in the wash fig. damaged, depreciated in value.
Comb.: shrink film = shrink-wrap (a) below; shrink fit = SHRINKAGE fit; shrink-resistant adjective (of a textile etc.) resistant to shrinkage when wet etc. shrink-ring a metal ring that has been shrunk on; a ring designed to bear the strain of expansion and shrinkage; shrink-wrap noun & verb (a) noun thin usu. transparent plastic film wrapped around and then shrunk tightly on to an article as packaging; (b) verb trans. enclose in shrink-wrap.
shrinkable adjective able to be shrunk; liable to shrink: L19.
shrinka'bility noun M20.
shrinker noun (a) a person who shrinks or recoils from a duty, danger, etc.; (b) a person employed in shrinking materials, esp. textiles; (c) slang a psychiatrist: M16.
shrinkingly adverb in a shrinking manner, esp. in a manner suggesting reluctance, dislike, shyness, etc. E19.