SHRINKING • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Shrinking

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/ʃrˈɪŋkɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Shrink v. t. (past shrank; past part. shrunk; pres. part. shrinking)

To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.

To draw back; to withdraw. (Obs.) "The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn."

To shrink on (Mach.), to fix (one piece or part) firmly around (another) by natural contraction in cooling, as a tire on a wheel, or a hoop upon a cannon, which is made slightly smaller than the part it is to fit, and expanded by heat till it can be slipped into place.

Shrink v. i. (past shrank; past part. shrunk; pres. part. shrinking)

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." "I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room." "Against this fire do I shrink up." "And shrink like parchment in consuming fire." "All the boards did shrink."

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." "They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task."

To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. (R.)

noun

Shrinking n. 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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Etymology of 'Shrinking'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Shrinking" Quotes from Famous Books

... of yours, I hope? I know it is dangerous, so late and alone," said Rose, shrinking behind the big chair as Charlie approached the fire, carefully avoiding ...

— Rose in Bloom - A Sequel to "Eight Cousins" • Louisa May Alcott

... to haul the supplies for the North West Mounted Police this spring. I'll be in Fort Macleod 'most as soon as you, I reckon. What is it, Winnie?" he questioned, as the child drew shrinking closer ...

— A Man of Two Countries • Alice Harriman

... the line. When dry, let two persons stretch the goods as curtains are stretched, fold it with the wrong side of the material out and iron double with the seam running through the center of the goods on the length of the material. In shrinking colored prints add turpentine to the water, and it will set the color. A teaspoonful is used ...

— Mother's Remedies - Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers - of the United States and Canada • T. J. Ritter

... the road to Cecily's right. She did not see him yet, for she looked up to Merrion. He took a step forward, his tread sounding loud on the road. There was a sudden turn of Cecily's head. A moment's silence followed. He came up to her, holding out his hand. She drew back, shrinking from it. Laying her hands on the gate of the bridge, she seemed to set it as a fence between them. Her voice reached Mina's ears, low, yet as distinct as though she had been by her side, and full of a terrified alarm and ...

— Tristram of Blent - An Episode in the Story of an Ancient House • Anthony Hope

... whole kid-glove gang have n't been able to do," he avowed. And having delivered himself of that ultimatum, he promptly relaxed into his old-time impassiveness, like a dog snapping from his kennel and shrinking back into its shadows. At the same moment that Blake's thick forefinger again prodded the buzzer-button at his desk end the watching woman could see the relapse into official wariness. It was as though he had put the shutters up ...

— Never-Fail Blake • Arthur Stringer

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