strain

[ streyn ]

/ streɪn /

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See synonyms for: strain / strained / straining / strains on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to draw tight or taut, especially to the utmost tension; stretch to the full: to strain a rope.

to exert to the utmost: to strain one's ears to catch a sound.

to impair, injure, or weaken (a muscle, tendon, etc.) by stretching or overexertion.

to cause mechanical deformation in (a body or structure) as the result of stress.

to stretch beyond the proper point or limit: to strain the meaning of a word.

to make excessive demands upon: to strain one's luck; to strain one's resources.

to pour (liquid containing solid matter) through a filter, sieve, or the like in order to hold back the denser solid constituents: to strain gravy.

to draw off (clear or pure liquid) by means of a filter or sieve: to strain the water from spinach; to strain broth.

to hold back (solid particles) from liquid matter by means of a filter or sieve: to strain seeds from orange juice; to strain rice.

to clasp tightly in the arms, the hand, etc.: The mother strained her child close to her breast.

Obsolete. to constrain, as to a course of action.

verb (used without object)

to pull forcibly: a dog straining at a leash.

to stretch one's muscles, nerves, etc., to the utmost.

to make violent physical efforts; strive hard.

to resist forcefully; balk: to strain at accepting an unpleasant fact.

to be subjected to tension or stress; suffer strain.

to filter, percolate, or ooze.

to trickle or flow: Sap strained from the bark.

noun

any force or pressure tending to alter shape, cause a fracture, etc.

strong muscular or physical effort.

great or excessive effort or striving after some goal, object, or effect.

an injury to a muscle, tendon, etc., due to excessive tension or use; sprain.

Mechanics, Physics. deformation of a body or structure as a result of an applied force.

condition of being strained or stretched.

a task, goal, or effect accomplished only with great effort: Housecleaning is a real strain.

severe, trying, or fatiguing pressure or exertion; taxing onus: the strain of hard work.

a severe demand on or test of resources, feelings, a person, etc.: a strain on one's hospitality.

a flow or burst of language, eloquence, etc.: the lofty strain of Cicero.

Often strains. a passage of melody, music, or songs as rendered or heard: the strains of the nightingale.

Music. a section of a piece of music, more or less complete in itself.

a passage or piece of poetry.

the tone, style, or spirit of an utterance, writing, etc.: a humorous strain.

a particular degree, height, or pitch attained: a strain of courageous enthusiasm.

OTHER WORDS FOR strain

1 extend.

7 filter, sieve.

10 hug, embrace, press.

17 seep.

20 exertion.

22 wrench.

See synonyms for strain on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of strain

First recorded in1250–1300; Middle English streinen (verb), from Old French estrein-, stem of estreindre “to press tightly, grip,” from Latin stringere “to bind, tie, draw tight.” See stringent

synonym study for strain

3. Strain, sprain imply a wrenching, twisting, and stretching of muscles and tendons. To strain is to stretch tightly, make taut, wrench, tear, cause injury to, by long-continued or sudden and too violent effort or movement: to strain one's heart by overexertion, one's eyes by reading small print. To sprain is to strain excessively (but without dislocation) by a sudden twist or wrench, the tendons and muscles connected with a joint, especially those of the ankle or wrist: to sprain an ankle.

OTHER WORDS FROM strain

strain·ing·ly, adverbstrainless, adjectivestrain·less·ly, adverb

Other definitions for strain (2 of 2)

strain²

[ streyn ]

/ streɪn /

noun

the body of descendants of a common ancestor, as a family or stock.

any of the different lines of ancestry united in a family or an individual.

a group of plants distinguished from other plants of the variety to which it belongs by some intrinsic quality, such as a tendency to yield heavily; breed.

an artificial variety of a species of domestic animal or cultivated plant.

Microbiology, Pathology. a specific variety of a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism: A strain of the virus will have distinct virulent properties as well as a particular immune response.Compare variant (def. 7).

ancestry or descent.

hereditary or natural character, tendency, or trait: a strain of insanity in a family.

a streak or trace.

a kind or sort.

Obsolete. procreation.

OTHER WORDS FOR strain

7 streak, vein, predisposition.

See synonyms for strain on Thesaurus.com

Origin of strain

First recorded before 950; Middle English stren(e), streine “gain, acquisition; sexual intercourse, procreation,” Old English strēon, strīon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use strain in a sentence

South Australia will lift its lockdown early and immediately allow outdoor exercise after fears authorities were dealing with an extremely infectious strain of the virus proved unfounded.
A pizza shop worker lied to contract tracers—prompting unfounded fears of a new COVID-19 strain|kdunn6|November 20, 2020|Fortune
The Army Reservist’s dark suit and crisp button-down strain, like they can hardly contain his large frame.
Two Years Ago, a Factory Worker. Today, a Republican Star|Nick Fouriezos|November 19, 2020|Ozy
The real game changer, though, will come when virologists no longer need to design vaccines that combat specific strains.
It might not always take years to develop vaccines|Ula Chrobak|November 19, 2020|Popular-Science
Marshall said the strain of the virus that’s circulating is “nasty” as many of those infected are not showing any symptoms.
One of the world’s strictest new lockdowns bans outdoor exercising and dog-walking|Claire Zillman, reporter|November 19, 2020|Fortune

Korber and her team suggested that, on the basis of their research—conducted in cells in culture—the new strain seemed to be more infectious than the original.
Will the Coronavirus Evolve to Be Less Deadly?|Wendy Orent|November 15, 2020|Singularity Hub
“Drew was being annoying about something,” Jonathan says matter-of-factly, straining his brain for the details of their last tiff.
How the Property Brothers Became Your Mom’s Favorite TV Stars|Kevin Fallon|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She squinted, blinked sporadically, and tilted her head, as if straining to wrestle answers from her brain.
Jeopardy! Champion Julia Collins’s Brain Feels Like Mush|Sujay Kumar|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Conservatives have attacked the lax security under Obama, even straining to tie the threat to ISIS.
Obama, the Coffee Salute, and the Dementia on the Right|Sally Kohn|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This close alliance is now straining after a rare outburst from the UAE.
Mideast Ally Blasts U.S. Over Accused Terrorist Story|Eli Lake|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Either way, the pressure is on—which has a way of squeezing, straining, and stretching a series into strange, unflattering shapes.
Why ‘The Americans’ Is the Best Spy Show on TV|Andrew Romano|February 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Motionless she stood, straining eye and ear; she could hear nothing, but the gestures told much.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
To add point to this success, he knew that the victor of Montebello was straining every nerve to gain this very prize.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
I might as well have laid down and gone to sleep on that pinnacle for all the good my waiting and eye-straining did me.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
A trace of bile may be present as a result of excessive straining while the tube is in the stomach.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Vegetable caseine is best obtained by treating peas or beans with hot water, and straining the fluid.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for strain (1 of 2)

strain¹

/ (streɪn) /

verb

to draw or be drawn taut; stretch tight

to exert, tax, or use (resources) to the utmost extent

to injure or damage or be injured or damaged by overexertionhe strained himself

to deform or be deformed as a result of a stress

(intr) to make intense or violent efforts; strive

to subject or be subjected to mental tension or stress

to pour or pass (a substance) or (of a substance) to be poured or passed through a sieve, filter, or strainer

(tr) to draw off or remove (one part of a substance or mixture from another) by or as if by filtering

(tr) to clasp tightly; hug

(tr) obsolete to force or constrain

(intr foll by at)

to push, pull, or work with violent exertion (upon)
to strive (for)
to balk or scruple (from)

noun

the act or an instance of straining

the damage resulting from excessive exertion

an intense physical or mental effort

music (often plural) a theme, melody, or tune

a great demand on the emotions, resources, etc

a feeling of tension and tiredness resulting from overwork, worry, etc; stress

a particular style or recurring theme in speech or writing

physics the change in dimension of a body under load expressed as the ratio of the total deflection or change in dimension to the original unloaded dimension. It may be a ratio of lengths, areas, or volumes

Word Origin for strain

C13: from Old French estreindre to press together, from Latin stringere to bind tightly

British Dictionary definitions for strain (2 of 2)

strain²

/ (streɪn) /

noun

the main body of descendants from one ancestor

a group of organisms within a species or variety, distinguished by one or more minor characteristics

a variety of bacterium or fungus, esp one used for a culture

a streak; trace

archaic a kind, type, or sort

Word Origin for strain

Old English strēon; related to Old High German gistriuni gain, Latin struere to construct

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for strain

strain

[ strān ]

A group of organisms of the same species, sharing certain hereditary characteristics not typical of the entire species but minor enough not to warrant classification as a separate breed or variety. Resistance to specific antibiotics is a feature of certain strains of bacteria.

The extent to which a body is distorted when it is subjected to a deforming force, as when under stress. The distortion can involve a change both in shape and in size. All measures of strain are dimensionless (they have no unit of measure).♦ Axial strain is equal to the ratio between the change in length of an object and its original length.♦ Volume strain is equal to the ratio between the change in volume of an object and its original volume. It is also called bulk strain.♦ Shear strain is equal to the ratio between the amount by which an object is skewed and its length. Compare stress. See more at Hooke's law.

strain

OTHER WORDS FOR strain

Origin of strain

synonym study for strain

OTHER WORDS FROM strain

Other definitions for strain (2 of 2)

OTHER WORDS FOR strain

Origin of strain

Words related to strain

How to use strain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for strain (1 of 2)

Word Origin for strain

British Dictionary definitions for strain (2 of 2)

Word Origin for strain

Scientific definitions for strain