shrink

shrink¹ [ʃrıŋk] v past tense shrank [ʃræŋk] past participle shrunk [ʃrʌŋk]

[: Old English; Origin: scrincan]

1.) [I and T]

to become smaller, or to make something smaller, through the effects of heat or water

▪ I'm worried about washing that shirt in case it shrinks.

→↑pre-shrunk, ↑shrunken

2.) [I and T]

to become or to make something smaller in amount, size, or value

≠ ↑grow

▪ The city continued to shrink.

shrink to

▪ The firm's staff had shrunk to only four people.

▪ Treatment can shrink a tumour.

▪ We want to expand the business, not shrink it.

3.) [I always + adverb/preposition]

to move back and away from something, especially because you are frightened

▪ She listened, shrinking under the blankets, to their shouts.

▪ Meredith was scared of him and shrank back.

▪ His anger was enough to make the others shrink away from him.

shrink from [shrink from sth] phr v

to avoid doing something difficult or unpleasant

▪ The leadership too often shrinks from hard decisions.

shrink from doing sth

▪ We will not shrink from making the necessary changes in policy.

shrink ²

shrink² n informal

[Date: 1900-2000; Origin: head-shrinker 'psychiatrist' (1900-2000)]

a ↑psychoanalyst or ↑psychiatrist - used humorously