Definition of shrink verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

shrink

verb

/ʃrɪŋk/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they shrink	/ʃrɪŋk/ /ʃrɪŋk/
he / she / it shrinks	/ʃrɪŋks/ /ʃrɪŋks/
past simple shrank	/ʃræŋk/ /ʃræŋk/
past simple shrunk	/ʃrʌŋk/ /ʃrʌŋk/
past participle shrunk	/ʃrʌŋk/ /ʃrʌŋk/
-ing form shrinking	/ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/ /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/

[intransitive, transitive] shrink (something) to become smaller, especially when washed in water that is too hot; to make clothes, cloth, etc. smaller in this way
- My sweater shrank in the wash.
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Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
[intransitive, transitive] to become or to make something smaller in size or amount
- The tumour had shrunk to the size of a pea.
- The market for their products is shrinking.
- shrink something The internet in a sense has shrunk the world.
see also shrunken
Extra Examples
- Households have been shrinking in size but increasing in number.
- Their profits shrank by 4% last year.
- Their share of the market has shrunk from 14% to 5%.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- considerably
- dramatically
- significantly
- …
preposition
- by
- from
- to
- …
phrases
- shrink in size
See full entry
[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move back or away from something because you are frightened or shocked synonym cower
- He shrank back against the wall as he heard them approaching.
Extra Examples
- I shrank back into the shadows.
- She shrank back in terror.
- She shrank from his touch.
Topics Feelingsc2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- a little
- visibly
- instinctively
- …
verb + shrink
- try to
preposition
- against
- in
- into
- …
See full entry