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   strain

   /streɪn/

   verb

   • 1. force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make an unusually great effort: "I stopped and listened, straining my ears for any sound"
   • ▪ make an unusually great effort: "his voice was so quiet that I had to strain to hear it" Similar strugglelabourtoilmake a supreme effortmake every effortspare no effortstrain every nervetry very hardstrivebreak one's backpush/drive oneself to the limitdo one's bestinformal:pull out all the stopsgo all outgive it one's allbend/lean over backwardsgive it one's best shotbust a gutbreak one's neckdo one's damnedestkill oneselfgo for the doctor
   • ▪ injure (a limb, muscle, or organ) by overexerting it: "on cold days you are more likely to strain a muscle" Similar injurehurtdamageimpairpullwrenchteartwistsprainrickcrick
   • ▪ make severe or excessive demands on: "he strained her tolerance to the limit" Similar overtaxoverworkoverburdenoverextendoverreachovertaskmake too many demands onrun/work oneself into the groundexert excessivelydrive too farexert to the limitpush to the limitexhaustwear outfatiguetiretaxoverdo itwork too hardinformal:knackerknock oneself out
   • ▪ pull or push forcibly at something: "the bear strained at the chain around its neck" Similar pulltugheavehauljerkpushinformal:yank
   • ▪ stretch (something) tightly: "the barbed wire fence was strained to posts six feet high"
   • ▪ embrace (someone) tightly: archaic "she strained the infant to her bosom again"
   • 2. pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a porous or perforated device or material in order to separate out any solid matter: "strain the custard into a bowl"
   • ▪ cause liquid to drain off (food which has been boiled, soaked, or canned) by using a porous or perforated device: "she turned to the sink to strain the noodles" Similar sievesiftfilterscreenriddleseparatepercolateleachrare:filtrategriddle
   • ▪ drain (liquid) off food by using a porous or perforated device: "strain off the surplus fat" Similar sievesiftfilterscreenriddleseparatepercolateleachrare:filtrategriddle

   noun

   • 1. a force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging degree: "the usual type of chair puts an enormous strain on the spine" Similar tensiontightnesstautnesssheardistensionrare:tensity
   • ▪ an injury to a part of the body caused by overexertion: "he has a slight groin strain" Similar injurysprainwrenchtwistrick
   • ▪ the magnitude of a deformation, equal to the change in the dimension of a deformed object divided by its original dimension.
   • 2. a severe or excessive demand on the strength, resources, or abilities of someone or something: "the accusations put a strain on relations between the two countries" Similar pressuredemandsburdensexertionsstresstensioninformal:hassle
   • ▪ a state of tension or exhaustion resulting from severe demands on one's strength or resources: "the telltale signs of nervous strain" Similar stresstensionnervous tensionanxietyexhaustionfatiguetirednesswearinesspressure of workoverworkduressOpposite relaxation
   • 3. the sound of a piece of music: "the distant strains of the brass band grew louder" Similar soundmusicmelodytuneairsong

   Word Origin Middle English (as a verb): from Old French estreindre, from Latin stringere ‘draw tight’. Current senses of the noun arose in the mid 16th century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. strainable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

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     1

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   • R

     1

   • A

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   • I

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2. People also ask

   What does strain mean?

   • 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 strain the meaning of a word. to strain one's luck; to strain one's resources. to strain gravy. to strain the water from spinach; to strain broth.

   STRAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is another word for strain?

   • Other forms: strained; strains; straining The noun strain is a stretch, effort, or exertion. You can strain your ankle, or your little brother can strain your patience. This word has many, many meanings.

   Strain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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   What does it mean to strain a person or organization?

   • If strain is put on a person or organization, they have to do more than they are really able to do. She couldn't cope with the stresses and strains of her career. To strain something means to make it do more than it is really able to do. The number of flights is straining the air traffic control system.

   STRAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What does strained mean in a sentence?

   • 1. stretch, test, tax, overtax, Resources will be further strained by new demands for housing. 2. injure, wrench, sprain, damage, pull, tear, hurt, twist, rick, impair, overexert He strained his back during a practice session.

   Strain - definition of strain by The Free Dictionary

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › strainStrain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › strain

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   1. a. : lineage, ancestry. b. : a group of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut physiological but usually not morphological distinctions. a high-yielding strain of winter wheat. broadly : a specified infraspecific group (such as a stock, line, or ecotype) c. : kind, sort.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSTRAIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   STRAIN definition: 1. a force or influence that stretches, pulls, or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing…. Learn more.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › strainSTRAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › strain

   • Cached

   Strain definition: to draw tight or taut, especially to the utmost tension; stretch to the full. See examples of STRAIN used in a sentence.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › strainSTRAIN | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › strain

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   STRAIN definition: 1. a feeling of being worried and nervous about something: 2. to cause problems for someone or to…. Learn more.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSTRAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Strain is a measure of how much a material changes shape under a force. It is equal to the change in any dimension divided by the original value of that dimension.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › strainStrain - definition of strain by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › strain

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   a. Extreme or laborious effort, exertion, or work: moved the sofa with little strain. b. A great or excessive demand or stress on one's body, mind, or resources: the strain of managing both a family and a career. c. The state of being subjected to such demands or stresses: trying to work under great strain. 3.

9. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › strainStrain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › strain

   The noun strain is a stretch, effort, or exertion. You can strain your ankle, or your little brother can strain your patience.