Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Shrink

Shrink

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp.
Shrank
or
Shrunk
p. p.
Shrunk
or
Shrunken
, but the latter is now seldom used except as a participial adjective;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Shrinking
.]
[OE.
shrinken
,
schrinken
, AS.
scrincan
; akin to OD.
schrincken
, and probably to Sw.
skrynka
a wrinkle,
skrynkla
to wrinkle, to rumple, and E.
shrimp
, n. & v.,
scrimp
. CF.
Shrimp
.]
1.
To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.
And on a broken reed he still did stay
His feeble steps, which
shrunk
when hard thereon he lay.
Spenser.
I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will
shrink
or draw into less room.
Bacon.
Against this fire do I
shrink
up.
Shakespeare
And
shrink
like parchment in consuming fire.
Dryden.
All the boards did
shrink
.
Coleridge.
2.
To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.
What happier natures
shrink
at with affright,
The hard inhabitant contends is right.
Pope.
They assisted us against the Thebans when you
shrank
from the task.
Jowett (Thucyd.)
3.
To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake.
[R.]
Shak.

Shrink

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To cause to contract or shrink;
as, to
shrink
finnel by imersing it in boiling water
.
2.
To draw back; to withdraw.
[Obs.]
The Libyc Hammon
shrinks
his horn.
Milton.
To shrink on
(Mach.)
,
to fix (one piece or part) firmly around (another) by natural contraction in cooling, as a tire on a wheel, or a hoop upon a cannon, which is made slightly smaller than the part it is to fit, and expanded by heat till it can be slipped into place.

Shrink

,
Noun.
1.
The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.
Yet almost wish, with sudden
shrink
,
That I had less to praise.
Leigh Hunt.

Webster 1828 Edition


Shrink

SHRINK

,
Verb.
I.
pret. and pp. shrunk. the old pret. shrank and pp. shrunken are nearly obsolete.
To contract spontaneously; to draw or be drawn into less length, breadth or compass by an inherent power; as, woolen cloth shrinks in hot water; a flaxen of hempen line shrinks in a humid atmosphere. Many substances shrink by drying.
2. To shrivel; to become wrinkled by contraction; as th eskin.
3. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear. A brave man never shrinks from danger; a good man does not shrink from duty.
4. To recoil, as in fear, horror or distress. My mind shrinks from the recital of our woes.
What happier natures shrink at with affright,
The hard inhabitant contends is right. Pope.
5. To express fear, horror or pain by shrugging or contracting the body.

SHRINK

,
Verb.
T.
to cause to contract; as, to shrink by immersing it in boiling water.
O mighty Cesar, dost thou lie so low!
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,

Definition 2024


shrink

shrink

English

Verb

shrink (third-person singular simple present shrinks, present participle shrinking, simple past shrank or shrunk, past participle shrunk or shrunken)

  1. (transitive) To cause to become smaller.
    The dryer shrank my sweater.
  2. (intransitive) To become smaller; to contract.
    This garment will shrink when wet.
    • Francis Bacon
      I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room.
    • Dryden
      And shrink like parchment in consuming fire.
  3. (intransitive) To cower or flinch.
    Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.
  4. (transitive) To draw back; to withdraw.
    • Milton
      The Libya Hammon shrinks his horn.
  5. (intransitive, figuratively) To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
    • Alexander Pope
      What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right.
    • Jowett (Thucyd.)
      They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task.
  6. (intransitive) To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.

Derived terms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

shrink (plural shrinks)

  1. Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.
    • Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, / That I had less to praise. Leigh Hunt.
  2. (slang, sometimes pejorative) A psychiatrist or therapist; a head-shrinker.
    You need to see a shrink.
    My shrink said that he was an enabler, bad for me.
    • 1994, Green Day, Basket Case
      I went to a shrink, to analyze my dreams. He said it's lack of sex that's bringing my down.

Usage notes

  • The slang sense was originally pejorative, expressing a distrust of practitioners in the field. It is now not as belittling or trivializing.

Synonyms

Translations