Shrink



GRE TOEFL 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v.收缩, 退缩
• ［英］ v.收缩, 退缩 ( to become smaller or more compacted)
• ［例］ Flannel shrinks in the wash. shrink from responsibility ( 逃避责任)

Webster Collegiate

kI. verb (shrank or shrunk; shrunk or shrunken; shrinking)

• Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scrincan; akin to Middle Dutch schrinken to draw back
• Date: before 12th century
• intransitive verb
  • 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
    • d. to lessen in value ; dwindle
  • 3.
    • a. to recoil instinctively (as from something painful or horrible) <shrank from the challenge>
    • b. to hold oneself back ; refrain <did not shrink from telling the truth>
• transitive verb
  • to cause to contract or shrink; specifically to compact (cloth) by causing to contract when subjected to washing, boiling, steaming, or other processes
• Synonyms: see contract, recoil
• ? shrinkable adjective
• ? shrinker noun

II. noun

• Date: 1590
• 1. the act of shrinking
• 2. shrinkage
• 3. \［short for headshrinker\］ a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist

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