shrivel
pronunciation
How to pronounce shrivel in British English:
UK [ˈʃrɪvl]
How to pronounce shrivel in American English:
US [ˈʃrɪvl]
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- Verb:
- wither, especially with a loss of moisture
- decrease in size, range, or extent
Word Origin
- shrivel (v.)
- 1560s (implied in shriveled), of unknown origin, not found in Middle English; perhaps from a Scandinavian source (compare Swedish skryvla "to wrinkle, to shrivel"), perhaps ultimately connected with shrimp (n.) and shrink (v.). Related: Shriveled; shriveling.
Example
- 1. Japan , in contrast , saw productivity growth shrivel in the early 1990s .
- 2. The membrane will be pierced ; it will shrivel and turn to damp shreds .
- 3. The longer he waits , the likelier the new contenders are to shrivel and fade from public awareness .
- 4. He left mr. zimmerman 's own kidneys to shrivel harmlessly in place ( removing them would add to surgical risk ) .
- 5. Rim has seen its once-dominant position in the market shrivel away , especially in the u.s. , since the iphone appeared in 2007 .