shrew /ʃruː / (shrews ) N‑COUNT A shrew is a small brown animal like a mouse with a long pointed nose.
shrewd /ʃruː d/ (shrewder , shrewdest ) ADJ A shrewd person is able to understand and judge a situation quickly and to use this understanding to their own advantage. □ She's a shrewd businesswoman.
shriek /ʃriː k/ (shrieks , shrieking , shrieked )
1 VERB When someone shrieks , they make a short, very loud cry, for example because they are suddenly surprised, are in pain, or are laughing. □ [V ] She shrieked and leapt from the bed. □ [V + with ] Miranda shrieked with laughter. ● N‑COUNT Shriek is also a noun. □ Sue let out a terrific shriek and leapt out of the way.
2 VERB If you shriek something, you shout it in a loud, high-pitched voice. □ [V with quote] 'Stop it! Stop it!' shrieked Jane. □ [V n] He was shrieking obscenities and weeping.
shrift /ʃr I ft/ PHRASE If someone or something gets short shrift , they are paid very little attention. □ The idea has been given short shrift by philosophers.
shrill /ʃr I l/ (shriller , shrillest )
1 ADJ A shrill sound is high-pitched and unpleasant. □ Shrill cries and startled oaths flew up around us as pandemonium broke out. □ Mary Ann's voice grew shrill. ● shril|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ 'What are you doing?' she demanded shrilly. ● shrill|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …that ugly shrillness in her voice.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a demand, protest, or statement as shrill , you disapprove of it and do not like the strong, forceful way it is said. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Shrill voices on both sides of the Atlantic are advocating protectionism.
shrimp /ʃr I mp/ (shrimps or shrimp ) N‑COUNT Shrimps are small shellfish with long tails and many legs. □ Add the shrimp and cook for 30 seconds.
shri mp co ck|tail (shrimp cocktails ) N‑VAR A shrimp cocktail is a dish that consists of shrimp, salad, and a sauce. It is usually eaten at the beginning of a meal. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use prawn cocktail
shrine /ʃra I n/ (shrines )
1 N‑COUNT A shrine is a place of worship which is associated with a particular holy person or object. □ [+ of ] …the holy shrine of Mecca.
2 N‑COUNT A shrine is a place that people visit and treat with respect because it is connected with a dead person or with dead people that they want to remember. □ [+ to ] The monument has been turned into a shrine to the dead and the missing.
shrink /ʃr I ŋk/ (shrinks , shrinking , shrank , shrunk )
1 VERB If cloth or clothing shrinks , it becomes smaller in size, usually as a result of being washed. □ [V ] All my jumpers have shrunk.
2 VERB If something shrinks or something else shrinks it, it becomes smaller. □ [V ] The vast forests of West Africa have shrunk. □ [V n] Hungary may have to lower its hopes of shrinking its state sector.
3 VERB If you shrink away from someone or something, you move away from them because you are frightened, shocked, or disgusted by them. □ [V prep/adv] One child shrinks away from me when I try to talk to him.
4 VERB [usu with neg] If you do not shrink from a task or duty, you do it even though it is unpleasant or dangerous. □ [V + from ] We must not shrink from the legitimate use of force if we are to remain credible.
5 N‑COUNT A shrink is a psychiatrist. [INFORMAL ] □ I've seen a shrink already.
6 no shrinking violet → see violet
shrink|age /ʃr I ŋk I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT Shrinkage is a decrease in the size or amount of something. □ Allow for some shrinkage in both length and width.
shri nk-wrapped ADJ [usu ADJ n] A shrink-wrapped product is sold in a tight covering of thin plastic. □ …a shrink-wrapped chicken breast.
shriv|el /ʃr I v ə l/ (shrivels , shrivelling , shrivelled ) in AM, use shriveling , shriveled VERB When something shrivels or when something shrivels it, it becomes dryer and smaller, often with lines in its surface, as a result of losing the water it contains. □ [V ] The plant shrivels and dies. □ [V n] …dry weather that shrivelled this summer's crops. ● PHRASAL VERB Shrivel up means the same as shrivel . □ [V P ] The leaves started to shrivel up. ● shriv|elled ADJ □ It looked old and shrivelled.
shroud /ʃraʊ d/ (shrouds , shrouding , shrouded )
1 N‑COUNT A shroud is a cloth which is used for wrapping a dead body.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to something that surrounds an object or situation as a shroud of something. □ [+ of ] …a parked car huddled under a shroud of grey snow. □ [+ of ] Ministers are as keen as ever to wrap their activities in a shroud of secrecy.
3 VERB If something has been shrouded in mystery or secrecy, very little information about it has been made available. □ [be V -ed + in ] For years the teaching of acting has been shrouded in mystery. □ [V n] …the secrecy which has shrouded the whole affair.
4 VERB If darkness, fog, or smoke shrouds an area, it covers it so that it is difficult to see. □ [V n] Mist shrouded the outline of Buckingham Palace.