rétrécir

Rétrécir is a French verb meaning "to become smaller" or "to make smaller." It is used both transitively (rétrécir un vêtement) and intransitively (ce tissu rétrécit) to describe a reduction in size, volume or extent. The related noun is rétrécissement (shrinkage, contraction).

Grammatically, rétrécir belongs to the second group of regular -ir verbs. Typical forms include je rétrécis, nous rétrécissons and the past participle rétréci. Subjunctive and compound tenses follow standard patterns for this conjugation class.

The verb appears in multiple domains. In textiles and clothing, rétrécir denotes the loss of dimension of fibers and garments caused by heat, moisture, mechanical action or fiber tension release. In materials science and physics it can describe thermal contraction or other processes that reduce an object's dimensions. In biology and medicine, rétrécir may refer to the narrowing or atrophy of tissues, vessels or organs. In general discourse and economics, it can be used metaphorically to indicate reduction in scale, scope or activity.

Synonyms include diminuer and réduire; antonyms include agrandir and élargir. Usage ranges from technical descriptions to everyday speech, where contexts and accompanying terms clarify whether the change is intended (tailoring, resizing) or incidental (accidental shrinkage).