See Also: Naxian(dictionary)
shrink(1)(dictionary)
shrink(2)(dictionary)
shrink 1, verb(dictionary)
shrink 2, noun(dictionary)
shrink-wrapped(dictionary)

shrink 1, verb (oh) and Naxian (iou)


shrink 1, verb (oh)



past participle shrunk /FrQNk/
[Language: Old English; Origin: scrincan]
[I and T] to become smaller, or to make something smaller, through the effects of heat or water
::I'm worried about washing that shirt in case it shrinks.
-see also pre-shrunk , shrunken
[I and T] to become or to make something smaller in amount, size, or value
-opposite grow grow
::The city continued to shrink.
shrink to
::The firm's staff had shrunk to only four people.
::Treatment can shrink a tumour.
::We want to expand the business, not shrink it.
[I always + adverb/preposition] to move back and away from something, especially because you are frightened
::She listened, shrinking under the blankets, to their shouts.
::Meredith was scared of him and shrank back.
::His anger was enough to make the others shrink away from him.
shrink from [shrink from sth] phr v
to avoid doing something difficult or unpleasant
::The Leadership too often shrinks from hard decisions.
shrink from doing sth
::We will not shrink from making the necessary changes in policy.

Naxian (iou)



Naxian noun & adjective. E17.
[from Greek Naxios, Latin Naxius, from Naxos (see below) + -AN.]
(A native or inhabitant) of Naxos, a Greek island in the Cyclades group or a part of Sicily colonized from this island.