Shrivel: meaning, definitions and examples

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shrivel

[ ˈʃrɪv(ə)l ]

^{Context #1}

in nature

To shrivel means to become or make something dry and wrinkled, typically as a result of heat, cold, or being old.

Synonyms

dehydrate, wilt, wither

Examples of usage

The leaves shriveled up in the hot sun.
The grapes shriveled on the vine.
The old apple had shriveled and lost its freshness.

^{Context #2}

informal

A shrivel is a state of being shrunken or wrinkled.

Synonyms

shrinkage, wrinkle

Examples of usage

She looked at the shrivel of the fruit in disappointment.
The heat caused a shrivel in the once lush plants.

Translations

Translations of the word "shrivel" in other languages:

🇵🇹 murchar

🇮🇳 सिकुड़ना

🇩🇪 schrumpfen

🇮🇩 layu

🇺🇦 зморщуватися

🇵🇱 kurczyć się

🇯🇵 しおれる

🇫🇷 se flétrir

🇪🇸 marchitarse

🇹🇷 büzülmek

🇰🇷 시들다

🇸🇦 يذبل

🇨🇿 scvrknout se

🇸🇰 zvädnúť

🇨🇳 枯萎

🇸🇮 skrčiti se

🇮🇸 skreppa saman

🇰🇿 қурау

🇬🇪 ჭკნობა

🇦🇿 büzüşmək

🇲🇽 marchitarse

Word origin

The word 'shrivel' originated from the Old English word 'screofan', meaning 'to shrivel'. Over time, the word evolved to its current form, with the same basic meaning of becoming dry and wrinkled. The concept of shriveling has been observed in nature for centuries, as plants wither and fruits dehydrate. The word has since become commonly used in English to describe the process of drying up and becoming wrinkled.