intransitive verb shrank or shrunk, shrunk or shrunken, shrinking
- to become or seem to become smaller, more compact, etc.; contract, as from heat, cold, moisture, etc.
- to lessen, as in amount, worth, etc.
- to draw back; turn away; cower, as from fear
- to hold back, as from taking action; hesitate or recoil: to shrink from doing one's duty
transitive verb
to cause to shrink or contract; specif., to cause (fabric) to shrink by a special process in manufacturing so as to minimize later shrinkage