Shrink — Defs

01 v. i. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.

imp. Shrank; p. p. Shrunk; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrinking

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.]

02 v. t. To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.

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.

Phrases & compounds

To shrink on — 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.

03 n. The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.

1.
The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.
“Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, That I had less to praise.” — Leigh Hunt.
2.
a psychiatrist.[Coll.]