—v. (past shrank; past part. shrunk or (esp. as adj.) shrunken)
1 tr. & intr. make or become smaller; contract, esp. by the action of moisture, heat, or cold.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by from) a retire; recoil; flinch; cower (shrank from her touch). b be averse from doing (shrinks from meeting them).
3 (as shrunken adj.) (esp. of a face, person, etc.) having grown smaller esp. because of age, illness, etc.
—n.
1 the act or an instance of shrinking; shrinkage.
2 sl. a psychiatrist (from 'head-shrinker').
Phrases and idioms:
shrinking violet an exaggeratedly shy person. shrink into oneself become withdrawn. shrink on slip (a metal tyre etc.) on while expanded with heat and allow to tighten. shrink-resistant (of textiles etc.) resistant to shrinkage when wet etc. shrink-wrap (-wrapped, -wrapping) enclose (an article) in (esp. transparent) film that shrinks tightly on to it.
Derivatives:
shrinkable adj. shrinker n. shrinkingly adv. shrink-proof adj.
Etymology: OE scrincan: cf. skrynka to wrinkle
Useful english dictionary. 2012.