1. (

• shrinking ,
• shrinkage

) process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage" ;

2. (

• shrinking

) the act of becoming less ;

1. (

• shrivel ,
• shrivel_up ,
• shrink ,
• wither

) wither, as with a loss of moisture; "The fruit dried and shriveled" ;

2. (

• flinch ,
• squinch ,
• funk ,
• cringe ,
• shrink ,
• wince ,
• recoil ,
• quail

) draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf" ;

3. (

• shrink ,
• reduce ,

) reduce in size; reduce physically; "Hot water will shrink the sweater"; "Can you shrink this image?" ;

4. (

• shrink ,
• contract ,

) become smaller or draw together; "The fabric shrank"; "The balloon shrank" ;

5. (

• shrink ,
• shrivel ,

) decrease in size, range, or extent; "His earnings shrank"; "My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me" ;