/krɪndʒ; krɪndʒ/
v
1 [I, Ipr] ~ (at/from sth) move back or lower one's body in fear; cower （因恐惧而）退缩, 蜷缩; 畏缩
*a child cringing in terror 吓得直退缩的孩子
* The dog cringed at the sight of the whip. 那只狗见到鞭子就退缩了.
* (fig 比喻) I cringe with embarrassment (ie feel very embarrassed) when I reread those first stories I wrote. 我重读了我初期编写的故事, 感到十分难为情.
2 [I, Ipr] ~ (to/before sb) (derog 贬) behave too humbly towards sb who is more powerful 卑躬屈膝
*She's always cringing to the boss. 她在上司面前总是卑躬屈膝.

v [I]
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Perhaps from Old English cringan 'to give up']
to move away from someone or something because you are afraid
　A stray dog was cringing by the door.
　She cringed away from him.
to feel embarrassed by something that you have said or done because you think it makes you seem silly
→wincecringe at
　She cringed at the sound of her own voice.
　It makes me cringe when I think how stupid I was.