\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}.] [OE.
shrinken, schrinken, AS. scrincan; akin to OD. schrincken,
and probably to Sw. skrynka a wrinkle, skrynkla to wrinkle,
to rumple, and E. shrimp, n. & v., scrimp. CF. {Shrimp}.]
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.] --Shak.

\Shrink\, v. t.
1. To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by
   imersing it in boiling water.
2. To draw back; to withdraw. [Obs.]
         The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn.    --Milton.
{To shrink on} (Mach.), to fix (one piece or part) firmly
   around (another) by natural contraction in cooling, as a
   tire on a wheel, or a hoop upon a cannon, which is made
   slightly smaller than the part it is to fit, and expanded
   by heat till it can be slipped into place.

\Shrink\, n.
The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil;
withdrawal.
      Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, That I had less to
      praise.                                  --Leigh Hunt.