shrink

noun

UK/ʃrɪŋk/
US/ʃrɪŋk/

Definitions of shrink noun

  1. Countable

    a psychiatrist

    • I was feeling so overwhelmed that I had to consult a psychiatrist.

    • He visited a psychiatrist to address his anxiety issues.

    • My friend suggested I should see a shrink, but I'm a little scared.

verb

UK/ʃrɪŋk/
US/ʃrɪŋk/

Definitions of shrink verb

size

  1. B2TransitiveIntransitive

    to become smaller, or to make something smaller

    • This shirt will shrink if you wash it in hot water.

    • Their business shrank due to a decrease in market demand.

    • The company has shrunk its workforce by 20 percent.

fear

  1. IntransitiveVerb + adv/prepliterary

    to move away from someone or something because you are frightened

    • She shrank back slightly when she heard the loud thunder.

    • The boy shrank back when the dog barked at him.

    • He seemed to shrink away in the face of criticism.

Phrasal Verbs of shrink

  • shrink from something

    to sidestep or evade doing something that is unpleasant or challenging

    He shrank from making that difficult decision.