shrink
verb
noun
ʃrɪŋk
verb
1
to
become
smaller,
or
to
make
something
smaller,
through
the
effects
of
heat
or
water
（使）缩小，（使）收缩
I,T
I’m
worried
about
washing
that
shirt
in
case
it
shrinks.
我对洗那件衬衫有点担心，怕它会缩水。
2
to
become
or
to
make
something
smaller
in
amount,
size,
or
value
〔数量、体积或价值〕变小，减少，缩小;
I,T
The
city
continued
to
shrink.
这座城市继续缩小。
[+
to
]
The
firm’s
staff
had
shrunk
to
only
four
people.
这家公司的员工减少到只剩四个人了。
Treatment
can
shrink
a
tumour.
治疗能够使肿瘤萎缩。
We
want
to
expand
the
business,
not
shrink
it.
我们要扩大业务，而不是缩小。
3
to
move
back
and
away
from
something,
especially
because
you
are
frightened
〔尤指因恐惧而〕退缩; 畏缩
I always + adv/prep
She
listened,
shrinking
under
the
blankets,
to
their
shouts.
她缩在毯子下面听他们咆哮。
Meredith
was
scared
of
him
and
shrank
back.
梅雷迪斯害怕他，退缩了。
His
anger
was
enough
to
make
the
others
shrink
away
from
him.
他的怒火足以使别人退缩。
4
to
avoid
doing
something
difficult
or
unpleasant
避免做，不愿做〔困难或不愉快的事〕
The
leadership
too
often
shrinks
from
hard
decisions.
领导层常常回避作困难的决定。
shrink
from
doing
sth
We
will
not
shrink
from
making
the
necessary
changes
in
policy.
我们不会回避对政策作出必要的修改。
noun
5
a
PSYCHOANALYST
or
PSYCHIATRIST
–
used
humorously
[非正式] 精神分析学家; 精神科医生〔幽默用法〕