From Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”).
The sense “psychologist, psychotherapist” is a clipping of head-shrinker.
Meanings
Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.
Yet almost with, with sudden shrink, That I had less to praise. 1818, Leigh Hunt, “To T** L** H**, Six Years Old, During a Sickness.”, in Foliage; […], London: Printed for C. and J. Ollier, Welbeck Street, page xlvii:
(derogatory, slang, sometimes) A psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
I went to a shrink to analyze my dreams / She says it's lack of sex that's bringing me down 1994 August, Green Day, “Basket Case” (track 7), in Dookie, Reprise Records:
My shrink said that he was an enabler, bad for me.
You need to see a shrink, you crazy fool.
"From behind the counter of this provincial train station coffee shop, Joanna was barista and unofficial shrink to wildly varied London-bound travellers," writes author Laline Paull. Confessions of a Barista on Platform 1 was published on February 9 by The Firle Press [...]. 2021 March 10, “Stop & Examine”, in RAIL, number 926, page 70:
(uncountable) Loss of inventory, for example due to shoplifting or not selling items before their expiration date.
Assuming the retailer's shrink is average or below, and the owner is comfortable with the level of shrink, perhaps nothing more need be done except to maintain vigilance and to monitor the shrink for signs of emerging problems. 2011, Charles Sennewald, John Christman, Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention: An Encyclopedic Reference, page 227:
hu fejzsugorító (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · nl zielenknijper (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · tr deli doktoru (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · bg психотерапевт (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · ru мозгопра́в (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · de Seelenklempner (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · el τρελογιατρός (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · it psichiatra (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · it strizzacervelli (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · sv hjärnskrynklare (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · hu agyturkász (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · hu lélekdoki (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · sv psykare (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · fi kallonkutistaja (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · ko 정신과 의사 (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · cs psychouš (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · ja 精神科医 (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · es loquero (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · nl zielknijper (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · fr psy (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · de Irrenarzt (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling)) · hu agykurkász (psychiatrist or therapist (informal, belittling))
From Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”).
The sense “psychologist, psychotherapist” is a clipping of head-shrinker.
Meanings
(transitive) To cause to become smaller.
The dryer shrank my sweater.
The bottom line is this: To shrink your gut, you need to start listening to it. 2008 October, David Schipper, “Outsmart your stomach: Seven ways to fill your gut—and lose it, too”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 8, →ISSN, page 135:
(intransitive) To become smaller; to contract.
When they took over the 1000 'Flying Scotsman' from May 1979, the journey from London to Edinburgh shrank to just 4hrs 37mins - including a stop at Newcastle. 2021 October 6, Greg Morse, “A need for speed and the drive for 125”, in RAIL, number 941, page 52:
And shrink like parchment in consuming fire. 1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
This garment will shrink when wet.
Since 1982, it has shrunk by 250 meters. 2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns:
I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
(intransitive) To cower or flinch.
Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.
(transitive) To draw back; to withdraw.
The Libyc Hammon ſhrinks his horn, 1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 10:
(figuratively, intransitive) To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
The other patients in the ward, all but the Texan, shrank from him with a tenderhearted aversion from the moment they set eyes on him the morning after the night he had been sneaked in. 1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 169:
What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right. 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC:
They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. 1881, Benjamin Jowett, transl., Thucydides:
(intransitive) To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
shrunk
Tense=Past
nonstandard
lexicographic
shrunk
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
shrinking
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
shrank
Tense=Past
lexicographic
shrinks
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
shrunken
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Antonyms
expand (antonym(s) of “become smaller”) · stretch (antonym(s) of “become smaller”) · grow (antonym(s) of “to cause to become smaller”) · enlarge (antonym(s) of “to cause to become smaller”) · enlarge (antonym(s) of “become smaller”) · grow (antonym(s) of “become smaller”) · expand (antonym(s) of “to cause to become smaller”) · stretch (antonym(s) of “to cause to become smaller”)
retreat (withdraw or retire, as from danger) · shirk (avoid an unwanted task) · shrink back (withdraw or retire, as from danger) · funk (avoid an unwanted task) · flinch (withdraw or retire, as from danger)
Translations (165)
es rehuir (to move back because of fear or disgust) · tr küçültmek (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · uk сти́снутися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움치다 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ca encongir (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · de schrumpfen (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · grc ὀκνέω (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · fr rétrécir (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · fr se réduire (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ro diminua (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ro micșora (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · he התכווץ (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · eo malkreskiĝi (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · da krympe (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움츠러들이다 (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ru сократи́ться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · hy փոքրանալ (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · enm schrynken (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ko 수축(收縮)하다 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ru сжима́ть (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · mi pīngongo (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · cmn 收縮 /收缩 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · mi eti (to move back because of fear or disgust) · nl verschrompelen (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · fi kutistaa (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · hu összemegy (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ro contracta (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es achicarse (to cower) · eo ŝrumpi (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움치러지다 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · mi maopo (to move back because of fear or disgust) · tt keçeräyü (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움츠러뜨리다 (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · hu összezsugorodik (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ru сжа́ться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움츠러들다 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · hu szűkül (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · id menciutkan (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ar قَلَّصَ (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · nn krympa (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · fr rétrécir (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · bg свивам (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · az kiçilmək (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · af krimp (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · cs scvrknout se (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · eo etiĝi (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · he הקטין (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · sv krympa (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · enm schrynken (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · de scheuen (to move back because of fear or disgust) · ja 縮める (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ko 움츠러지다 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ja 短縮する (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · grc ἀποστέλλομαι (to move back because of fear or disgust) · ru сади́ться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · uk зме́ншитися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ru сжать (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · th หด (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · es parvificar (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · el λουφάρω (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · hi सिकुड़ना (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ru сесть (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · el συρρικνώνω (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · bg отдръпвам се (to move back because of fear or disgust) · el μαζεύομαι (to cower) · nl krimpen (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ru уменьша́ть (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · kix tsùp (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · it rimpiccolirsi (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ru уме́ньшиться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ja 縮小する (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · cmn 縮水 /缩水 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · uk стиска́тися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · la minuō (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · el μπάζω (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · it restringersi (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · lt susitraukti (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ga crap (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ga crap (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움츠러들다 (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · ja 縮まる (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ru сжима́ться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ru уме́ньшить (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ar تَقَلَّصَ (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · de sich drücken (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · th หด (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · fi luikkia (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · es empequeñecer (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · fr rapetisser (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ko 움츠리다 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · id mengecil (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ja 縮む (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · sv krympa (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ru сокраща́ться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · mi kumu (to cower) · tr ufaltmak (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ko 움츠리다 (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · fr faire rétrécir (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · fr diminuer (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · fi luistaa (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · cmn 縮 /缩 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · uk скоро́чуватися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · el αποτραβιέμαι (to cower) · tk kiçelmek (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · fi laistaa (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · es achicar (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · egy Aa1-U2:D4-G1-G1-A17 (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · pt encolher (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · bg свивам се (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · cs zmenšit se (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · hi सिकोड़ना (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · tr küçülmek (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · bg съкращавам се (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es empequeñecer (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ru уменьша́ться (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · id menciut (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · got 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍃𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (to cower) · pl kurczyć się (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es encoger (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · mi maopo (to cower) · de abnehmen (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · mi eti (to cower) · enm schrynken (to cower) · enm schrynken (to move back because of fear or disgust) · ota پوصمق (to cower) · ro intra la apă (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · pt contrair (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ar أَحْجَمَ (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es mermar (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ko 움츠러트리다 (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · eo etigi (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · fi kutistua (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · he כיווץ (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · pt encolher (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · la dīminuō (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · de schrumpfen (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · it ritirarsi (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · no krympe (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · uk скороти́тися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · uk сти́скуватися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · uk зме́ншуватися (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · he קטון (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es parvificarse (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · bg намалявам (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ja 尻込みする (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · cs smrštit se (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · da krympe sig (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · cy lleihau (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · hu összehúzódik (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es jibarizar (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · cy mynd yn llai (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ca encongir-se (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · ko 움츠러지다 (intransitive: to attempt to avoid an unwanted or intimidating duty) · nl krimpen (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · fr se resserrer (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es engurrar (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · ro micșora (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · mi iti haere (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · id memperkecil (transitive: to cause something to shrink) · nl slinken (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es achicarse (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · es encogerse (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · el ζαρώνω (to cower) · th หดตัว (intransitive: to contract, to become smaller) · nrf rap'tichi (transitive: to cause something to shrink)