shrink

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To cause to become smaller.
2. (intransitive) To become smaller; to contract.
3. (intransitive) To cower or flinch.
4. (transitive) To draw back; to withdraw.
5. (figuratively, intransitive) To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
6. (intransitive) To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.

Noun

1. Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.
2. (derogatory, slang, sometimes) A psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
3. (uncountable) Loss of inventory, for example due to shoplifting or not selling items before their expiration date.

Synonyms

contract

reduce

shrivel

diminish

decrease

shorten

flinch

lessen

dwindle

recoil

cringe

become smaller

wrinkle

cower

abridge

wince

psychiatrist

wither

compress

subside

become small

draw back

quail

abbreviate

draw

squinch

tighten

scale down

huddle

deflate

decline

hesitate

funk

lower

head-shrinker

curtail

ease

crumple

drop

wilt

withdraw

shudder

blench

bend

condense

retract

sag

collapse

parch

make smaller

Translations

schrumpfen

diminuer

encolher

encogerse

diminuire

mermar

encoger

restringersi

abnehmen

rétrécir

verminderen

azalmak

einlaufen

menguar

diminuir

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʃɹɪŋk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: schrynken

Inherited from Old English: sċrincan

Cognate with Dutch: schrinken

In summary

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.