shrink

shrink1 [ ʃrıŋk ] (past tense shrank [ ʃræŋk ] or shrunk [ ʃrʌŋk ] ; past participle shrunk [ ʃrʌŋk ] ) verb *

1. ) intransitive to become smaller in size:

Do you think this dress will shrink if I handwash it?

Many people shrink in old age.

a ) transitive to make something smaller in size:

The treatment will shrink the tumor.

2. ) intransitive to become smaller in amount, value, or range:

The company's profit margins shrank from 32.5 percent to 17 percent.

shrink rapidly/dramatically/fast: Numbers of butterflies are shrinking rapidly as the environment changes.

a ) transitive to make something smaller in amount, value, or range:

The UN was urged to shrink its peacekeeping presence in Rwanda.

3. ) intransitive to move back or away from someone or something, especially because you are frightened or nervous:

shrink away/back: He shrank away from her touch.

`shrink ,from phrasal verb transitive

shrink from something to not be willing to do something difficult or deal with something unpleasant:

Anne didn't shrink from the difficult issues facing parents.

shrink from doing something: He shrank from telling his secrets to anyone.

shrink

shrink 2 [ ʃrıŋk ] noun count INFORMAL

a PSYCHIATRIST. Some people think this word does not show respect.