shrink

[ shringk ]

/ ʃrɪŋk /

verb (used without object), shrank or, often, shrunk; shrunk or shrunk·en; shrink·ing.

to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance: to shrink from danger; to shrink from contact.

to contract or lessen in size, as from exposure to conditions of temperature or moisture: This cloth will not shrink if washed in lukewarm water.

to become reduced in extent or compass.

verb (used with object), shrank or, often, shrunk; shrunk or shrunk·en; shrink·ing.

to cause to shrink or contract; reduce.

Textiles. to cause (a fabric) to contract during finishing, thus preventing shrinkage, during laundering, of the garments made from it.

noun

an act or instance of shrinking.

a shrinking movement.

shrinkage.

Also shrinker. Also called head shrinker. Slang. a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychoanalyst.

Nearby words

shrimp plant, shrimper, shrimpfish, shrine, shriner, shrink, shrink fit, shrink-wrap, shrinkage, shrinker, shrinking violet

Origin of shrink

before 900; 1955–60 for def 9; Middle English schrinken, Old English scrincan; cognate with Middle Dutch schrinken, Swedish skrynka to shrink, Norwegian skrukka old shrunken woman

SYNONYMS FOR shrink

1 withdraw, recoil, quail.

ANTONYMS FOR shrink

3 increase.

Related forms

shrink·a·ble, adjectiveshrink·ing·ly, adverbnon·shrink·a·ble, adjectivenon·shrink·ing, adjective

non·shrink·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·shrink, verb, o·ver·shrank or, often, o·ver·shrunk; o·ver·shrunk or o·ver·shrunk·en; o·ver·shrink·ing.un·shrink·a·ble, adjectiveun·shrink·ing, adjectiveun·shrink·ing·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1. See wince¹. 3. See decrease.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for head-shrinker

I see that conclusion the head-shrinker's afraid you'll get to, Skipper.
Breaking Point|James E. Gunn

British Dictionary definitions for head-shrinker

shrink

/ (ʃrɪŋk) /

verb shrinks, shrinking, shrank, shrunk, shrunk or shrunken

to contract or cause to contract as from wetness, heat, cold, etc

to become or cause to become smaller in size

(intr often foll by from)

to recoil or withdrawto shrink from the sight of blood
to feel great reluctance (at)to shrink from killing an animal

noun

the act or an instance of shrinking

slang a psychiatrist

Derived Forms

shrinkable, adjectiveshrinker, nounshrinking, adjectiveshrinkingly, adverb

Word Origin for shrink

Old English scrincan; related to Old Norse skrokkr torso, Old Swedish skrunkin wrinkled, Old Norse hrukka a crease, Icelandic skrukka wrinkled woman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012