Shrink has 8 different meanings across 2 categories:
Noun
· Verb
Noun
1
a physician who specializes in psychiatry
"After years of struggling with anxiety, she decided to see a shrink to help her manage her symptoms."
2
Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.
"The fabric began to shrink in the hot water, causing my favorite shirt to become too small."
In plain English: A shrink is another word for a therapist who helps people deal with their mental health problems.
"He needs to bring his pants in because they are too long and acting like a shrink at the knees."
Verb
1
wither, as with a loss of moisture
"The fruit dried and shriveled"
2
draw back, as with fear or pain
"she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
3
reduce in size; reduce physically
"Hot water will shrink the sweater"
"Can you shrink this image?"
4
become smaller or draw together
"The fabric shrank"
"The balloon shrank"
5
decrease in size, range, or extent
"His earnings shrank"
"My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me"
6
To cause to become smaller.
"The detergent is designed to shrink fabric that has been left in hot water too long."
In plain English: To shrink means to become smaller, usually because of heat, cold, or being washed.
"He needs to shrink his jeans before he can wear them again."
Example Sentences
"He needs to bring his pants in because they are too long and acting like a shrink at the knees."
noun
"The shrink suggested that therapy would help him cope with his anxiety."
noun
"After years of stress, the patient's mental health shrink recommended a change in medication."
noun
"He finally found a new shrink who understood his unique perspective on life."
noun
"He needs to shrink his jeans before he can wear them again."
verb
Related Terms
Show all 54 terms ↓
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
Origin
The word "shrink" comes from Old English and originally meant to contract or become smaller. Its modern meaning as a term for a psychologist is actually a shortened form of "head-shrinker."