Shrink Definition
shrĭngk
shrank, shrinking, shrinks, shrunk, shrunken
verb
shrank, shrinking, shrinks, shrunk, shrunken
To become or appear to become smaller.
The shadows shrank as the sun rose higher. The mountains shrank in the distance as we drove away.
American Heritage
To become or seem to become smaller, more compact, etc.; contract, as from heat, cold, moisture, etc.
Webster's New World
To lessen, as in amount, worth, etc.
Webster's New World
To cause to shrink or contract; specif., to cause (fabric) to shrink by a special process in manufacturing so as to minimize later shrinkage.
Webster's New World
To draw back; turn away; cower, as from fear.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
noun
shrinks
A shrinking; shrinkage.
Webster's New World
The degree to which something shrinks; shrinkage.
American Heritage
A clinical psychiatrist or psychologist.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Shrink
Noun
Singular:
shrinkPlural:
shrinksOrigin of Shrink
-
Middle English shrinken to wither, shrivel up from Old English scrincan sker-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink").
From Wiktionary
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