To reduce in size, as by drawing together

• contract

  1. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
  2. The writing or document containing such an agreement.
  3. The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties.

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  1. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
  2. The writing or document containing such an agreement.
  3. The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties.

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• constringe

  1. To cause to contract; constrict.

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  1. To cause to contract; constrict.

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• constrict

  1. To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing.
  2. To squeeze or compress.
  3. To restrict the scope or freedom of; cramp:

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  1. To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing.
  2. To squeeze or compress.
  3. To restrict the scope or freedom of; cramp:

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• compress

  1. To press together:
  2. To make more compact by or as if by pressing.
  3. To encode (data) to minimize the space required for storage or transmittal:

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  1. To press together:
  2. To make more compact by or as if by pressing.
  3. To encode (data) to minimize the space required for storage or transmittal:

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• compact

  1. Closely and firmly united or packed together; dense:
  2. Occupying little space compared with others of its type:
  3. Brief and to the point; concise:

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  1. Closely and firmly united or packed together; dense:
  2. Occupying little space compared with others of its type:
  3. Brief and to the point; concise:

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To draw away involuntarily, usually out of fear or disgust

• wince

  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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• start

  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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• shy

  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved:
  3. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:

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  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved:
  3. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:

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• recoil

  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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• quail

  1. Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
  2. Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

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  1. Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
  2. Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

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• flinch

  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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• cringe

  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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• blench

  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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An act of drawing back in an involuntary or instinctive fashion

• wince

  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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• recoil

  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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• flinch

  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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• cringe

  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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To become smaller

• narrow

  1. Of small or limited width, especially in comparison with length.
  2. Limited in area or scope; cramped.
  3. Lacking flexibility; rigid:

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  1. Of small or limited width, especially in comparison with length.
  2. Limited in area or scope; cramped.
  3. Lacking flexibility; rigid:

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• shorten

  1. To make short or shorter.
  2. To reduce in force, efficacy, or intensity.
  3. To add shortening to (dough) so as to make flaky.

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  1. To make short or shorter.
  2. To reduce in force, efficacy, or intensity.
  3. To add shortening to (dough) so as to make flaky.

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• shrivel

  1. To become or make shrunken and wrinkled, often by drying:
  2. To lose or cause to lose vitality or intensity:
  3. To become or make much less or smaller; dwindle.

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  1. To become or make shrunken and wrinkled, often by drying:
  2. To lose or cause to lose vitality or intensity:
  3. To become or make much less or smaller; dwindle.

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• contract

  1. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
  2. The writing or document containing such an agreement.
  3. The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties.

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  1. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
  2. The writing or document containing such an agreement.
  3. The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties.

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To recoil

• shy-away

  1. to draw back in fear, cringe, back down

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  1. to draw back in fear, cringe, back down

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• flinch

  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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• blench

  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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• withdraw

  1. To take back or away; remove:
  2. To cause to leave or return:
  3. To remove (money) from an account.

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  1. To take back or away; remove:
  2. To cause to leave or return:
  3. To remove (money) from an account.

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