shrink

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To cause to become smaller.

   The dryer shrank my sweater.

2. 2
   verb

   To become smaller; to contract.

   This garment will shrink when wet.

3. 3
   verb

   To cower or flinch.

   Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.

4. 4
   verb

   To draw back; to withdraw.

   The Libyc Hammon ſhrinks his horn,

5. 5
   verb

   To withdraw or retire, as from danger.

   What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right.

6. 6
   noun

   Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.

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

7. 7
   noun

   A psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

   You need to see a shrink, you crazy fool.

8. 8
   noun

   Loss of inventory, for example due to shoplifting or not selling items before their expiration date.

   Assuming the retailer's shrink is average or below, and the owner is comfortable with the level of shrink, perhaps nothing more need be done except to maintain vigilance and to monitor the shrink for signs of emerging problems.

Etymology

From Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”). The sense “psychologist, psychotherapist” is a clipping of head-shrinker.