shrink

shrink
I UK [ʃrɪŋk] / US verb
Word forms "shrink":
present tense I/you/we/they shrink he/she/it shrinks present participle shrinking past tense shrank UK [ʃræŋk] / US or shrunk UK [ʃrʌŋk] / US past participle shrunk UK [ʃrʌŋk] / US
*
1)
a) [intransitive] to become smaller in size

Do you think this dress will shrink if I handwash it?

Many people shrink in old age.

b) [transitive] to make something smaller in size

The treatment will shrink the tumour.

2)
a) [intransitive] to become smaller in amount, value, or range

The company's profit margins shrank from 32.5 per cent to 17 per cent.

shrink rapidly/dramatically/fast:

Numbers of butterflies are shrinking rapidly as the environment changes.

b) [transitive] to make something smaller in amount, value, or range

The UN was urged to shrink its peacekeeping presence in Rwanda.

3) [intransitive] to move back or away from someone or something, especially because you are frightened or nervous
shrink away/back:

He shrank away from her touch.

Phrasal verbs:
II UK [ʃrɪŋk] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "shrink":
singular shrink plural shrinks informal
a psychiatrist Some people think that this word does not show respect.

English dictionary. 2014.

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  • shrink — [ʆrɪŋk] verb shrank PASTTENSE [ʆræŋk] shrunk PASTPART [ʆrʌŋk] 1. [intransitive] to become smaller in amount, size, or value: • The economy is expected to shrink slightly. • In the past decade, the number of employees h …   Financial and business terms

  • Shrink — Shrink, v. 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shrink — can refer to:* Shrink , a slang term for a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist (derived from the word headshrinker ) *Shrinkage (accounting), a retail term for the money lost by undercharged, damaged, or stolen goods …   Wikipedia

  • Shrink — Shrink, v. t. 1. To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water. [1913 Webster] 2. To draw back; to withdraw. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn. Milton. [1913 Webster] {To shrink on}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrink — [shriŋk] vi. shrank or shrunk, shrunk or shrunken, shrinking [ME schrynken < OE scrincan, akin to Swed skrynka, to wrinkle < IE * (s)kreng < base * (s)ker , to bend, turn > SHRIMP, Gr kirkos, a ring, L curvus, curved] 1. to become or… …   English World dictionary

  • Shrink — Shrink, n. 1. The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal. [1913 Webster] Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, That I had less to praise. Leigh Hunt. [1913 Webster] 2. [Contraction of head shrinker, a colloquial term for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrink — O.E. scrincan (class III strong verb; past tense scranc, pp. scruncen), from P.Gmc. *skrenkanan (Cf. M.Du. schrinken), probably from PIE root * (s)ker to turn, bend. Originally with causal shrench (Cf. drink/drench). The meaning draw back, recoil …   Etymology dictionary

  • shrink — [v1] become smaller compress, concentrate, condense, constrict, contract, decrease, deflate, diminish, drop off, dwindle, fail, fall off, fall short, grow smaller, lessen, narrow, reduce, shorten, shrivel, wane, waste, waste away, weaken, wither …   New thesaurus

  • shrink — ► VERB (past shrank; past part. shrunk or (especially as adj. ) shrunken) 1) become or make smaller in size or amount; contract. 2) (of clothes or material) become smaller as a result of being immersed in water. 3) move back or away in fear or… …   English terms dictionary

  • shrink — index abridge (shorten), commute, condense, constrict (compress), decrease, deduct (reduce) …   Law dictionary

  • shrink — shriŋk n a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist called also headshrinker …   Medical dictionary

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