/ ˈʃrɪvl; NAmE / verb
( -ll- , US -l- ) shrivel (sth) (up) to become or make sth dry and wrinkled as a result of heat, cold or being old :
[ v ]
The leaves on the plant had shrivelled up from lack of water.
[ vn ]
The hot weather had shrivelled the grapes in every vineyard.
► shriv·elled adjective :
a shrivelled old man
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare with Swedish dialect skryvla to wrinkle.