shrinking

English

Etymology

From shrink +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪŋkɪŋ
• Hyphenation: shrink‧ing

Verb

shrinking

1. present participle and gerund of shrink

Adjective

shrinking (comparative more shrinking, superlative most shrinking)

1. Shy and retiring.

Antonyms

• unshrinking (adj)

Derived terms

• shrinking violet

Translations

shy and retiring

• Finnish: arka (fi)

Noun

shrinking (plural shrinkings)

1. The act of one who, or that which, shrinks; act of becoming smaller or moving timidly away.
   • 1822, The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, volume 6, page 10:

     […] the silent grief beyond the power of words—the generous consolations of the noble sister—the shrinkings of the poor criminal, and his relapsings into a gentler penitence […]

   • 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

     The notion of a gently-nurtured girl being at the mercy of that fiend incarnate […] was one which caused me tangible shrinkings of the body.