shrivel

verb

/ˈʃrɪv.əl/ (-ll- or US usually -l-)

Definition

› [I or T] to become dry, smaller, and covered with lines as if by crushing or folding, or to make something do this: The lack of rain has shrivelled the crops. You ought to pick those lettuces before they shrivel (up) and die.Decaying and staying fresh › [I] to become much smaller than is needed or wanted: Profits are shrivelling as the recession gets worse.Becoming and making smaller or lessBecoming and making less strong shrivelled

/-əld/ adjective › Those oranges were looking a bit old and shrivelled, so I threw them out.Decaying and staying fresh

(Definition of shrivel verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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