I. ˈshrivəl, esp South ˈsri-, dial ˈswi- verb
( shriveled or shrivelled ; shriveled or shrivelled ; shriveling or shrivelling -v(ə)liŋ ; shrivels )
Etymology: origin unknown
intransitive verb
1. : to draw or be drawn into wrinkles : shrink and form corrugations
the skin shrivels with age
the expanding economy would shrivel like a pricked balloon — Lamp
— often used with up
a leaf shrivels up in the hot sun
2. : to become reduced to inanition, helplessness, or inefficiency
all their vain terrors shriveling up like ghosts at sunrise — Edith Wharton
transitive verb
: to cause to shrivel : shrink , wither
one blazing weekend can shrivel the receipts for the stoutest hit — Richard Maney
filmy clouds which do not always disperse until the sun has risen and shrivelled them — Mary S. Broome
II. noun
( -s )
: something (as a withered nut or fruit) that is shriveled