shrink

Etymology

From Middle English shrinken, from Old English scrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃɹɪŋk/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Verb

shrink (third-person singular simple present shrinks, present participle shrinking, simple past shrank or shrunk, past participle shrunk or shrunken)

1. (transitive) To cause to become smaller.

   The dryer shrank my sweater.

2. (intransitive) To become smaller; to contract.

   This garment will shrink when wet.

   • Francis Bacon

     I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room.

   • Dryden

     And shrink like parchment in consuming fire.

3. (intransitive) To cower or flinch.

   Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.

4. (transitive) To draw back; to withdraw.
   • Milton

     The Libya Hammon shrinks his horn.

5. (intransitive, figuratively) To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
   • Alexander Pope

     What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right.

   • Jowett (Thucyd.)

     They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task.

6. (intransitive) To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.

Noun

shrink (plural shrinks)

1. Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.
   • Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, / That I had less to praise. — Leigh Hunt.
2. (slang, sometimes pejorative) A psychiatrist or therapist; a head-shrinker.

   You need to see a shrink.

   My shrink said that he was an enabler, bad for me.

   • 1994, Green Day, Basket Case

     I went to a shrink, to analyze my dreams. He said it's lack of sex that's bringing my down.

References

• shrink at OneLook Dictionary Search
• shrink in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911