SHRINK, v.i. pret. and pp. shrunk. the old pret. shrank and pp. shrunken are nearly obsolete.

To contract spontaneously; to draw or be drawn into less length, breadth or compass by an inherent power; as, woolen cloth shrinks in hot water; a flaxen of hempen line shrinks in a humid atmosphere. Many substances shrink by drying.

2. To shrivel; to become wrinkled by contraction; as th eskin.

3. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear. A brave man never shrinks from danger; a good man does not shrink from duty.

4. To recoil, as in fear, horror or distress. My mind shrinks from the recital of our woes.

What happier natures shrink at with affright,

The hard inhabitant contends is right. Pope.

5. To express fear, horror or pain by shrugging or contracting the body.

SHRINK, v.t. to cause to contract; as, to shrink by immersing it in boiling water.

O mighty Cesar, dost thou lie so low!

Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,

1. Contraction; a spontaneous drawing into a less compass; corrugation. – Woodward.
2. Contraction; a withdrawing from fear or horror. – Daniel.

1. To contract spontaneously; to draw or be drawn into less length, breadth or compass by an inherent power; as, woolen cloth shrinks in hot water; a flaxen or hempen line shrinks in a humid atmosphere. Many substances shrink by drying.
2. To shrivel; to become wrinkled by contraction; as the skin.
3. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear. A brave man never shrinks from danger; a good man does not shrink from duty.
4. To recoil, as in fear, horror or distress. My mind shrinks from the recital of our woes. What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right. – Pope.
5. To express fear, horror or pain by shrugging or contracting the body. – Shak.

To cause to contract; as, to shrink flannel by immersing it in boiling water. O mighty Cesar, dost thou lie so low! / Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, / Shrunk to this little measure! – Shak.

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 cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.
3. The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.
   
   

   Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink,
   That I had less to praise. Leigh Hunt.

4. 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.)

5. To draw back; to withdraw.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn. Milton.

   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.

6. To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake.
   
   
   [R.] Shak.