shrinking
 (adj.)收縮(皺)


 Shrink v. i. [imp. Shrank or Shrunk p. p. Shrunk or Shrunken but the latter is now seldom used except as a participial adjective; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrinking.]
 1. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.
 And on a broken reed he still did stay
 His feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon he lay.   --Spenser.
    I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room.   --Bacon.
    Against this fire do I shrink up.   --Shak.
    And shrink like parchment in consuming fire.   --Dryden.
    All the boards did shrink.   --Coleridge.
 2. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.
 What happier natures shrink at with affright,
 The hard inhabitant contends is right.   --Pope.
    They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task.   --Jowett (Thucyd.)
 3. To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. [R.]


 Shrink·ing, a. & n. from Shrink.
 Shrinking head Founding, a body of molten metal connected with a mold for the purpose of supplying metal to compensate for the shrinkage of the casting; -- called also sinking head, and riser.

 ◄ ►


 shrinking
      n 1: process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material
           lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage" [syn: shrinkage]
      2: the act of becoming less