Recess vs Shrink - What's the difference?

recess | shrink |

In intransitive terms the difference between recess and shrink

is that recess is to take or declare a break while shrink is to cower or flinch.

As nouns the difference between recess and shrink

is that recess is a break, pause or vacation while shrink is shrinkage; contraction; recoil.

As verbs the difference between recess and shrink

is that recess is to inset into something, or to recede while shrink is to cause to become smaller.

As an adjective recess

is remote, distant (in time or place).

recess

English

Noun

(es)

(countable, or, uncountable) A break, pause or vacation.

Spring recess offers a good chance to travel.

* Macaulay

The recess of Parliament lasted six weeks.

An inset, hole, space or opening.

Put a generous recess behind the handle for finger space.

* Washington Irving

a bed which stood in a deep recess

(US) A time of play, usually, on a playground.

Students who do not listen in class will not play outside during recess .

A decree of the imperial diet of the old German empire.

(archaic) A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat.

the recess of the tides

* South

every degree of ignorance being so far a recess and degradation from rationality

* Eikon Basilike

My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered.

(archaic) The state of being withdrawn; seclusion; privacy.

* Sir M. Hale

In the recess of the jury they are to consider the evidence.

* Dryden

Good verse recess and solitude requires.

(archaic) A place of retirement, retreat, secrecy, or seclusion.

* Milton

Departure from his happy place, our sweet / Recess , and only consolation left.

A secret or abstruse part.

the difficulties and recesses of science

(botany, zoology) A sinus.

Synonyms

* (a break) break, day off, pause, vacation

Derived terms

* recess appointment * recession * recessive

Verb

(es)

To inset into something, or to recede.

Wow, look at how that gargoyle recesses into the rest of architecture.

Recess the screw so it does not stick out.

To take or declare a break.

This court shall recess for its normal two hour lunch now.

Class will recess for 20 minutes.

(informal) To appoint, with a recess appointment.

* 2013 , Michael Grunwald, "Cliff Dweller", in , ISSN 0040-781X, volume 181, number 1, 2013 January 14, page 27:

To the National Rifle Association's delight, the Senate has hobbled the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives by failing to confirm a director since 2006, but Obama hasn't made a recess appointment. "The President's view of his own power is a constrained one," says White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler. "Many of his nominees have languished, but he's only recessed the ones that were critical to keep agencies functioning."

To make a recess in.

to recess a wall

Adjective

(head)

(obsolete, rare) Remote, distant (in time or place).

Thomas Salusbury: Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems:''''' ''I should think it best in the subsequent discourses to begin to examine whether the Earth be esteemed immoveable, as it hath been till now believed by most men, or else moveable, as some ancient Philosophers held, and others of not very '''recesse times were of opinion;

Anagrams

* ----

shrink

English

Verb

To cause to become smaller.

The dryer shrank my sweater.

To become smaller; to contract.

This garment will shrink when wet.

* Francis Bacon

I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room.

* Dryden

And shrink like parchment in consuming fire.

To cower or flinch.

Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.

To draw back; to withdraw.

* Milton

The Libya Hammon shrinks his horn.

(figuratively) To withdraw or retire, as from danger.

* Alexander Pope

What happier natures shrink at with affright, / The hard inhabitant contends is right.

* Jowett (Thucyd.)

They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task.

Synonyms

* (avoid an unwanted task) funk, shirk

Antonyms

* (to cause to become smaller) expand, grow, enlarge, stretch * (become smaller) expand, grow, enlarge, stretch

Noun

(en noun)

shrinkage; contraction; recoil

Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink , / That I had less to praise. — Leigh Hunt.

(slang, sometimes, pejorative) A psychiatrist or therapist; a head-shrinker.

You need to see a shrink .

My shrink said that he was an enabler, bad for me.

* 1994 , (Green Day),

I went to a shrink , to analyze my dreams. He said it's lack of sex that's bringing my down.''

Usage notes

* The slang sense was originally pejorative, expressing a distrust of practitioners in the field. It is now not as belittling or trivializing.

Synonyms

* head-shrinker