shrink

S2 W2

BrE /ʃrɪŋk/ AmE /ʃrɪŋk/

verb en → es

past shrunk pp shrunk ing shrinking

1 REDUCE SIZE [intransitive] B1

to become smaller in size or volume, especially when washed

encogerse, achicarse

  • shrink to something

Collocations shrink in the wash · shrink to a small size

  • The sweater shrunk when I washed it.

    El suéter se encogió cuando lo lavé.

2 REDUCE NUMBER [transitive] B1

to reduce the number of people in an organization or group

reducir, disminuir

  • shrink something by/to something

Collocations shrink the workforce · shrink a company's size

  • The company plans to shrink its workforce.

    La empresa planea reducir su personal.

3 REDUCE IMPORTANCE [transitive] B2

to make something seem less important or serious than it really is

minimizar, subestimar

  • shrink something down to size

Collocations shrink a problem · shrink an issue

  • Don't try to shrink the importance of this event.

    No trates de minimizar la importancia de este evento.

4 REDUCE RANGE [transitive] B2

to reduce the range or variety of something

reducir, limitar

  • shrink something to something

Collocations shrink a selection · shrink an option range

  • The company has shrunk its product line.

    La empresa ha reducido su línea de productos.

Phrasal verbs

shrink back RECOIL B2

retroceder, dar un paso atrás

  • She shrank back in fear.

    Ella retrocedió de miedo.

shrink from AVOID C1

evitar, esquivar

  • He shrank from the challenge.

    Él evitó el desafío.

shrink into DISAPPEAR C1

desaparecer, esconderse

  • He shrank into the background.

    Él se desvaneció en el fondo.

shrink away RECOIL C1

retroceder, alejarse

  • She shrank away from the crowd.

    Ella se apartó de la multitud.

shrink down REDUCE SIZE C1

encogerse, achicarse

  • The sweater shrank down to a small size.

    El suéter se encogió hasta un tamaño pequeño.

Idioms

shrink from the truth C1

evitar la verdad

  • He doesn't want to shrink from the truth.

    No quiere evitar la verdad.

shrink back in horror C1

retroceder de horror

  • She shrank back in horror at the sight.

    Ella retrocedió de horror al verlo.

shrink away from something C1

alejarse de algo

  • He shrank away from the responsibility.

    Él se alejó de la responsabilidad.