Meaning & Definition of word "Shrink"
Shrink
/ʃrɪŋk/
noun:
- 1. a person who performs surgery or therapy, especially a psychiatrist or psychologist.
- Example: He decided to talk to a shrink about his anxiety issues.
verb:
- 1. to become smaller in size, amount, or value.
- Example: The sweater will shrink if you wash it in hot water.
- 2. to cause something to become smaller.
- Example: The intense heat caused the plastic to shrink.
- 3. to retreat or withdraw.
- Example: She felt herself shrink back from the argument.
Etymology
●Middle English 'shrinken', from Old English 'scrinkan' meaning to 'shrivel, fade'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
shrink away:
to move back or down as a result of fear or anxiety.
shrink wrap:
a plastic film that shrinks tightly around an object when heat is applied.
shrink in size:
to reduce in dimensions.
Related Words
shrinkage:
the act of shrinking or the amount something has shrunk.
shrivel:
to become wrinkled and shrunken.
reduce:
to make smaller or less in amount or degree.
Slang Meanings of shrink
Meaning: a therapist or psychiatrist
● Example Sentence: After my last breakup, I decided to see a shrink.
Meaning: to hesitate or be afraid
● Example Sentence: He shrank from making the difficult decision.