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1. Dictionary

   Shrink

   /SHriNGk/

   

   verb

   • 1. become or make smaller in size or amount: "the workforce has shrunk to less than a thousand" Similar get smallerbecome/grow smallercontractdiminishlessenreducedecreasedwindlenarrowshortenslimdeclinefall offdrop offcondensedeflateshrivelwithermake smallercontractlessenreducedecreasenarrowshortentruncateabbreviatecondenseslim downpare downconcentrateabridgecompresssqueezedeflateshrivelwitherOpposite expandincreaseexpandincrease
   • ▪ (of clothes or material) become smaller as a result of being immersed in water: "she wore a sweater which had shrunk slightly"
   • ▪ fit something tightly on or onto another object by expanding it with heat and then cooling it rapidly after positioning: "the metal is unsuitable for shrinking onto wooden staves"
   • 2. move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust: "she shrank away from him, covering her face" Similar draw backrecoiljump backspring backjerk backpull backstart backback awayretreatwithdrawflinchshy awayblenchstartwincecringecowerquail
   • ▪ be averse to or unwilling to do (something difficult or unappealing): "I don't shrink from my responsibilities" Similar recoilshy awayhang backdemurflinchhave scruples aboutscruple abouthave misgivings abouthave qualms aboutbe loath tobe reluctant tobe unwilling tobe disinclined tobe indisposed tobe sorry tobe averse tobe slow tobe chary offight shy ofnot be in favor ofbe againstbe opposed tobe hesitant tobe diffident aboutbe bashful aboutbe shy aboutbe coy aboutbe ashamed tobe afraid tohesitate tohate tonot like tonot have the heart todrag one's feet/heels overwaver aboutvacillate aboutthink twice aboutbalk atquail atmind doing somethinginformal:boggle atarchaic:disrelish somethingOpposite confrontbe eager to
   • ▪ become withdrawn.

   noun

   • 1. a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist: informal "you should see a shrink"

   Word Origin Old Englishscrincan, of Germanic origin; related to Swedish skrynka ‘to wrinkle’. The noun (1960s) is shortened from headshrinker.

   Derivatives

   • 1. shrinkable adjective
   • 2. shrinker noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • S

     1

   • H

     4

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • K

     5

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2. People also ask

   What does shrink mean?

   • [intransitive, transitive] shrink (something) to become smaller, especially when washed in water that is too hot; to make clothes, cloth, etc. smaller in this way My sweater shrank in the wash. [intransitive, transitive] to become or to make something smaller in size or amount The tumor had shrunk to the size of a pea.

   shrink verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/shrink_1

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   What does shrunk mean?

   • The market for their products is shrinking. shrink something There was a movie called “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” Television in a sense has shrunk the world. see shrunken [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move back or away from something because you are frightened or shocked synonym cower He shrank back against the wall as he heard them approaching.

   shrink verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/shrink_1

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   What does shrink mean in psychiatry?

   • Good question! Shrink in this case is an abbreviation of headshrinker, which was a slang term for a psychiatrist (or mental-health professional in general), from around the late 1940s or early 1950s. I guess it came about because patients felt like the pressure of treatment made it feel like their heads were being shrunk.

   Why do we Call a Psychiatrist a Shrink? - English-Language Thoughts

   englishlanguagethoughts.com/2017/12/19/why-do-we-call-a-psychiatrist-a-shrink/

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   What is the difference between shrink and compress?

   • shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions. condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content. compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

   Shrinking Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrinking

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3. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionshrink verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   Check pronunciation: shrink. Definition of shrink verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › shrink%20%C2%A0Shrink Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › shrink%20%C2%A0

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   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 scope. See more

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › shrinkshrink | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › shrink

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   Definition of shrink – Learner’s Dictionary. shrink. verb [ I, T ] uk / ʃrɪŋk / us past tense shrank | past participle shrunk. B2. to become smaller, or to make something smaller: My shirt shrank in the wash. Its forests have shrunk to almost half the size they were 10 years ago. Want to learn more?

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › shrinkSHRINK | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › shrink

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   to become smaller, or to make something smaller: My shirt shrank in the wash. Its forests have shrunk to almost half the size they were 10 years ago. Phrasal verbs. shrink from sth/doing sth. noun [ C ] informal uk / ʃrɪŋk / us. a doctor trained to help people with mental or emotional problems.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › shrinkshrink definition | Cambridge Essential American Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › shrink

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   Definition of shrink in Essential American English Dictionary. shrink. verb. us / ʃrɪŋk/ past tense shrank | past participle shrunk. to become smaller, or to make something smaller: My shirt shrank in the wash. (Definition of shrink from the Webster's Essential Mini Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Translations of shrink.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › english-word › shrinkSHRINK - Find out everything about this English word | Collins

   www.collinsdictionary.com › english-word › shrink

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   Definitions of 'shrink' 1. If cloth or clothing shrinks, it becomes smaller in size, usually as a result of being washed. [...] 2. If something shrinks or something else shrinks it, it becomes smaller. [...] 3. If you shrink away from someone or something, you move away from them because you are frightened, shocked, or disgusted by them. [...] More

9. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › shrinkingShrinking Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › shrinking

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   1. : to contract or curl up the body or part of it : huddle, cower. 2. a. : to contract to less extent or compass. b. : to become smaller or more compacted. c. : to lose substance or weight.