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Shrink vs Ease - What's the difference?

shrink | ease | Related terms |

Shrink is a related term of ease.


In lang=en terms the difference between shrink and ease

is that shrink is to draw back; to withdraw while ease is to proceed with little effort.

As verbs the difference between shrink and ease

is that shrink is to cause to become smaller while ease is to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.

As nouns the difference between shrink and ease

is that shrink is shrinkage; contraction; recoil while ease is the state of being comfortable or free from stress.

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

    ease

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The state of being comfortable or free from stress.
    • She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.
  • Freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
    • ''His mind was at ease when he received his pension.
  • Freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship.
    • He passed all the exams with ease .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 11 , author=Rory Houston , title=Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland , work=RTE Sport citation , page= , passage=Walters tried a long range shot in the third minute as he opened the game sharply, linking well with Robbie Keane, but goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko gathered the ball with ease .}}
  • Dexterity or facility.
    • He played the organ with ease .
  • Affluence and freedom from financial problems.
    • After winning the jackpot, she lived a life of luxurious ease .
  • Relaxation, rest and leisure.
    • We took our ease on the patio.
  • (clothing) Additional space to allow movement within a garment.
    • to add ease to a waist measurement

    Quotations

    * (English Citations of "ease")

    Synonyms

    * (state of being comfortable or free from stress) comfort, peace * peace of mind * (dexterity or facility) dexterity, facility, skill * free time, leisure, relaxation, rest

    Derived terms

    * chapel of ease * at ease * ease of use

    Related terms

    * easy

    References

    Verb

    (eas)
  • To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
    • He eased his conscience by confessing.
  • * '>citation
    • Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier, wore a backpack equipped with an air bag, a relatively new and expensive part of the arsenal that backcountry users increasingly carry to ease their minds and increase survival odds in case of an avalanche.
  • To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
    • ''He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.
  • To give respite to (someone).
    • The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
  • To loosen or slacken the tension on (something).
    • We eased the rope, then lowered the sail.
  • To reduce the difficulty of (something).
    • We had to ease the entry requirements.
  • To move (something) slowly and carefully.
    • He eased the cork from the bottle.
  • To lessen in severity.
    • The pain eased overnight.
  • To proceed with little effort.
    • The car eased onto the motorway.

    Synonyms

    * assuage, salve * alleviate, assuage, lessen, reduce * give someone a break (informal), lay off (informal) * loosen, relax, slacken * simplify * (lessen in severity) lessen, reduce * (proceed with little effort) cruise