English Explanatory Dictionary

shrivel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To collapse inward; to crumble.
  2. To become wrinkled.
  3. To draw into wrinkles.

Pronunciation

shrĭ'vəl /ˈʃɹɪvəl/ en-us-shrivel.ogg

Word forms

shrivel shrivels shriveling shrivelling shriveled shrivelled

Etymology

First recorded as shriveled (“shrivelled”), probably of North Germanic origin related to dialectal Swedish skryvla (“to wrinkle, shrivel”); perhaps ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną (“to shrivel, shrink”) or *skrimpaną (“to shrink”).

Derived words

shriveler shrivel up
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