Shriveling: meaning, definitions and examples
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shriveling
[ ˈʃrɪvəlɪŋ ]
physical change
Shriveling refers to the process of becoming wrinkled, shrunken, or reduced in size, typically due to loss of moisture or vitality. This term often describes the physical deterioration of organic materials like fruit or plants when they dry out. The term can also apply metaphorically to situations or relationships that lose strength or vitality over time.
Synonyms
dehydrate, dry, waste away, wither
Examples of usage
- The fruit was shriveling in the hot sun.
- His confidence began shriveling after repeated failures.
- The leaves were shriveling as autumn approached.
Translations
Translations of the word "shriveling" in other languages:
🇵🇹 murchando
🇮🇳 सूखना
🇩🇪 schrumpfen
🇮🇩 mengkerut
🇺🇦 в'янення
🇵🇱 kurczenie się
🇯🇵 しぼむ
🇫🇷 rétrécissement
🇪🇸 encogimiento
🇹🇷 büzülme
🇰🇷 시들다
🇸🇦 تقلص
🇨🇿 scvrknutí
🇸🇰 zmršťovanie
🇨🇳 萎缩
🇸🇮 smanjšanje
🇮🇸 krumpa
🇰🇿 кебу
🇬🇪 მცირობა
🇦🇿 daralma
🇲🇽 encogimiento
Word origin
The word 'shrivel' likely originates from the Middle English term 'shrivelen', which itself is derived from the Old English 'scrīfan', meaning to shrivel or wrinkle. This root has connotations of both drying out and a reduction in size or vitality. The influence of Proto-Germanic languages, particularly from the word '*skribwō', contributes to its development in terms relating to shrinking and withering. Over time, 'shrivel' has evolved in usage to encompass both physical and metaphorical applications, reflecting changes in condition, state, or health. Historically, it has been used in literature and speech to evoke imagery of decay or deterioration, particularly in agricultural and botanical contexts.