DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Shrink v. i. [imp. Shrank or Shrunk p. p. Shrunk or Shrunken but the latter is now seldom used except as a participial adjective; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrinking.]
1. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.
And on a broken reed he still did stay
His feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon he lay. --Spenser.
I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room. --Bacon.
Against this fire do I shrink up. --Shak.
And shrink like parchment in consuming fire. --Dryden.
All the boards did shrink. --Coleridge.
2. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.
What happier natures shrink at with affright,
The hard inhabitant contends is right. --Pope.
They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. --Jowett (Thucyd.)
3. To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. [R.]
Shrink·ing, a. & n. from Shrink.
Shrinking head Founding, a body of molten metal connected with a mold for the purpose of supplying metal to compensate for the shrinkage of the casting; -- called also sinking head, and riser.
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shrinking
n 1: process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material
lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage" [syn: shrinkage]
2: the act of becoming less