Definition of Shrink

1. Noun. A physician who specializes in psychiatry.


2. Verb. Wither, as with a loss of moisture. "The fruit dried and shriveled"
Exact synonyms: Shrivel, Shrivel Up, Wither
Specialized synonyms: Atrophy, Blast, Die Back, Die Down, Dry Up, Mummify
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Diminish, Fall, Lessen

3. Verb. Draw back, as with fear or pain. "She flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
Exact synonyms: Cringe, Flinch, Funk, Quail, Recoil, Squinch, Wince
Generic synonyms: Move
Specialized synonyms: Retract, Shrink Back
Derivative terms: Flinch, Wince, Wince

4. Verb. Reduce in size; reduce physically. "Can you shrink this image?"
Exact synonyms: Reduce
Specialized synonyms: Reduce, Scale Down, Reef, Miniaturise, Miniaturize, Depopulate, Desolate, Downsize, Contract
Causes: Contract
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Lessen, Minify
Derivative terms: Reduction, Shrinkage, Shrinking

5. Verb. Become smaller or draw together. "These fabrics shrink easily"; "The balloon shrank"
Exact synonyms: Contract
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Diminish, Fall, Lessen
Specialized synonyms: Flex
Derivative terms: Contraction, Shrinkage
Antonyms: Expand, Stretch

6. Verb. Decrease in size, range, or extent. "Their earnings shrink this year"; "My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me"
Exact synonyms: Shrivel
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Diminish, Fall, Lessen
Derivative terms: Shrinking

Definition of Shrink

1. v. i. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.

2. v. t. To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.

3. n. The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.

Definition of Shrink

1. Verb. (ergative) To contract, to (cause to) become smaller. ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To cower or flinch. ¹

3. Noun. shrinkage; contraction; recoil ¹

4. Noun. (slang sometimes pejorative) A psychiatrist or therapist; a head-shrinker. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shrink

1. to contract or draw back [v SHRANK, SHRUNK or SHRUNKEN, SHRINKING, SHRINKS]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shrink

shrimpiness
shrimping
shrimpless
shrimplet
shrimplets
shrimplike
shrimps
shrimpy
shrinal
shrine
shrined
shrineless
shrinelike
shrines
shrining
shrink (current term)
shrink-wrap
shrink-wrapped
shrink-wrapped software
shrink-wrapping
shrink-wraps
shrink away
shrink back
shrink from
shrink up
shrinkable
shrinkages
shrinked
shrinker

Literary usage of Shrink

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Complete Word and Phrase Concordance to the Poems and Songs of Robert by J. B. Reid (1889)
"Never may'st thou, lovely Flower, Chilly shrink in sleety shower ! ... S. Why shrinks my soul half-blushing, half afraid, Chilly shrink in sleety shower \ . ..."

2. The Shadow Line: A Confession by Joseph Conrad (1917)
"And what appals me most of all is that I shrink from going on deck to face it. It's due to the ship, it's due to the men who are there on deck—some of them, ..."

3. Workforce 2000: Work and Workers for the 21st Century by William B. Johnstone, DIANE Publishing Company, Arnold E. Packer (1987)
"... 2-2 GOODS PRODUCTION WILL shrink FURTHER BY THE YEAR 2000 (Output in Millions of Current Dollars ) ^Excludes government services such as transportation ..."

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