4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  to  Sw  skrynka  a  wrinkle,  skrynkla  to  wrinkle, 
  to  rumple,  and  E.  shrimp,  n.  &  v.,  scrimp.  CF  {Shrimp}.] 
  1.  To  wrinkle,  bend,  or  curl;  to  shrivel;  hence  to  contract 
  into  a  less  extent  or  compass;  to  gather  together;  to 
  become  compacted. 
 
  And  on  a  broken  reed  he  still  did  stay  His  feeble 
  steps,  which  shrunk  when  hard  thereon  he  lay. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  I  have  not  found  that  water,  by  mixture  of  ashes, 
  will  shrink  or  draw  into  less  room  --Bacon. 
 
  Against  this  fire  do  I  shrink  up  --Shak. 
 
  And  shrink  like  parchment  in  consuming  fire. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  All  the  boards  did  shrink.  --Coleridge. 
 
  2.  To  withdraw  or  retire,  as  from  danger;  to  decline  action 
  from  fear;  to  recoil,  as  in  fear,  horror,  or  distress. 
 
  What  happier  natures  shrink  at  with  affright,  The 
  hard  inhabitant  contends  is  right  --Pope. 
 
  They  assisted  us  against  the  Thebans  when  you  shrank 
  from  the  task.  --Jowett 
  (Thucyd.) 
 
  3.  To  express  fear,  horror,  or  pain  by  contracting  the  body, 
  or  part  of  it  to  shudder;  to  quake.  [R.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Shrink  \Shrink\,  n. 
  The  act  shrinking;  shrinkage;  contraction;  also  recoil; 
  withdrawal. 
 
  Yet  almost  wish,  with  sudden  shrink,  That  I  had  less  to 
  praise.  --Leigh  Hunt. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Shrink  \Shrink\,  v.  t. 
  1.  To  cause  to  contract  or  shrink;  as  to  shrink  finnel  by 
  imersing  it  in  boiling  water. 
 
  2.  To  draw  back  to  withdraw.  [Obs.] 
 
  The  Libyc  Hammon  shrinks  his  horn.  --Milton. 
 
  {To  shrink  on}  (Mach.),  to  fix  (one  piece  or  part)  firmly 
  around  (another)  by  natural  contraction  in  cooling,  as  a 
  tire  on  a  wheel,  or  a  hoop  upon  a  cannon,  which  is  made 
  slightly  smaller  than  the  part  it  is  to  fit  and  expanded 
  by  heat  till  it  can  be  slipped  into  place 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  shrink 
  n  :  a  physician  who  specializes  in  psychiatry  [syn:  {psychiatrist}, 
  {head-shrinker}] 
  v  1:  wither,  esp.  with  a  loss  of  moisture;  "The  fruit  dried  and 
  shriveled"  [syn:  {shrivel},  {shrivel  up},  {wither}] 
  2:  draw  back  as  with  fear  [syn:  {flinch},  {squinch},  {funk},  {cringe}, 
  {wince},  {recoil},  {quail}] 
  3:  reduce  in  size;  reduce  physically;  "Hot  water  will  shrink 
  the  sweater";  "Can  you  shrink  this  image?"  [syn:  {reduce}] 
  4:  draw  together;  "The  fabric  shrank"  [syn:  {contract}]  [ant:  {stretch}] 
  5:  decrease  in  size,  range,  or  extent;  ""His  earnings  shrank"; 
  "My  courage  shrivelled  when  I  saw  the  task  before  me" 
  [syn:  {shrivel}] 

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