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
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
The hard inhabitant contends is right.
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 water2.
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
That I had less to praise.
shrink
,That I had less to praise.
Leigh Hunt.
Webster 1828 Edition
Shrink
SHRINK
,Verb.
I.
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.
O mighty Cesar, dost thou lie so low!
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,