enlarge 'FN: become larger.' grow 'FN: increase in size' expand 'FN: to become larger in any dimension' dilate 'FN: become wider, larger, or more open.' stretch 'COD: be made or be able to be made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.' spread 'FN: Expansion without loss of initial area.' shrink 'COD: become or make smaller in size or amount; contract'
The sails ballooned The fabric shrank The balloon shrank
Examples from VerbNet
The rod bent. Tony bent the rod into a U. Tony bent the rod with pliers. Tony folded the flaps open. The pliers bent the rod. Tony bent the rod into a U with pliers. The copper rods bent easily. Tony bent the rod.
Examples from SemCor
Dr._Bonnor supports the idea that the universe both expands and contracts, that in several billion years the expansion will slow_up and reverse itself and that the contraction will set_in. Do not use wood as it will not shrink with the clay and would cause breakage.