shrink

/ˈshriŋk/

Middle English, from Old English scrincan; akin to Middle Dutch schrinken to draw back

verb

  1. to contract or curl up the body or part of it : huddle, cower

  2. to contract to less extent or compass

  3. to become smaller or more compacted

contract shrink condense compress constrict deflate mean to decrease in bulk or volume. contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length. shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

noun

  1. the act of shrinking

  2. shrinkage

  3. a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist