shrink

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Rhymes with -ɪŋk

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.

transitive To cause to become smaller. The dryer shrank my sweater.
intransitive To become smaller; to contract. This garment will shrink when wet.
intransitive To cower or flinch. Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.
transitive To draw back; to withdraw. The Libyc Hammon ſhrinks his horn,
figuratively, intransitive To withdraw or retire, as from danger. What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right.
intransitive To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.

Shrinkage; contraction; recoil. Yet almost with, with sudden shrink, That I had less to praise.
derogatory, slang, sometimes A psychiatrist or psychotherapist. You need to see a shrink, you crazy fool.
uncountable 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.