3 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]:
Shrinking \Shrink"ing\,
a. & n. from {Shrink}.
{Shrinking head} (Founding), a body of molten metal connected
with a mold for the purpose of supplying metal to
compensate for the shrinkage of the casting; -- called
also {sinking head}, and {riser}.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
shrinking
n 1: process or result of becoming less or smaller: "the material
lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage" [syn: {shrinkage}]
2: the act of becoming less
more about shrinking
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