From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishshrivelshriv‧el /ˈʃrɪvəl/ (also shrivel up) verb (shrivelled, shrivelling British English, shriveled, shriveling American English) [intransitive, transitive] DRYSMALLif something shrivels, or if it is shrivelled, it becomes smaller and its surface becomes covered in lines because it is very dry or old The leaves change colour, then shrivel. —shrivelled British English, shriveled American English adjective a shrivelled apple→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
shrivel• Yet if they wait while a complex corporate empire is unwound, the value of their loans can shrivel almost to nothing.• In a rough economy, they said, budgets shrivel and advertisers get stern and cautious.• Why do Kate's onions grow so well, while mine shrivel and rot in the ground?• The ghost of Ken Noakes shrivelled and vanished from her subconscious.• How it had shrivelled her to the point of annihilation.• These microscopic biting flies would dry and shrivel in minutes out in the sun.• Profits have shriveled since the start of the economic crisis.• The steel companies seem to want to shrivel, to disappear.• But eventually, even red dwarfs will shrivel up and die.• The poor things shrivel up in protest.Origin shrivel (1500-1600) Perhaps from a Scandinavian language 