shrink

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to move away from something because you are scared or find it unpleasant.

v. to recoil or draw back physically or mentally from something perceived as dangerous or disgusting.

Español:achicarse

“The child seemed to shrink away from the loud, barking dog.”

“She did not shrink from the challenge, despite knowing that the legal battle would likely last for several years.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang

n. a casual and sometimes slightly rude word for a doctor who treats mental health.

n. a slang term for a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, derived from the idea of 'head-shrinking'.

“He decided to see a shrink to talk about his stress at work.”

“The protagonist in the film spends most of the first act complaining to his shrink about his recurring nightmares.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Business Technical

n. the loss of products from a shop because of theft or damage.

n. the loss of inventory between the point of manufacture or purchase and the point of sale, typically due to theft or administrative error.

“The shop owner was worried about the high amount of shrink this month.”

“Retailers are investing heavily in AI-driven surveillance to combat the rising costs associated with inventory shrink.”