strain

Strain means to exert or stretch to the maximum or to injure by too much exertion. (verb)

An example of strain is for a spectator to stretch over his seat to see a concert.
An example of strain is for a football player to pull a muscle from playing too roughly.

A strain is a bodily injury due to overexertion or an excessive demand on resources. (noun)

An example of strain is a pulled muscle.
An example of strain is reading a book in the dark, causing pressure on the eyes.

See strain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to draw or stretch tight
to exert, use, or tax to the utmost: to strain every nerve
to overtax; injure by overexertion; wrench: to strain a muscle
to injure or weaken by force, pressure, etc.: the wind strained the roof
to stretch or force beyond the normal, customary, or legitimate limits: to strain a rule to one's own advantage
to change the form or size of, by applying external force
1. to pass through a screen, sieve, filter, etc.; filter
2. to remove or free by filtration, etc.
to hug or embrace: now only in
Obsolete to force; constrain

intransitive verb

noun

a straining or being strained
great effort, exertion, or tension
an injury to a part of the body as a result of great effort or overexertion: muscle strain
1. change in form or size, or both, resulting from stress or force
2. stress or force
a great or excessive demand on one's emotions, resources, etc.: a strain on the imagination

noun

Obsolete
1. a begetting
2. offspring
ancestry; lineage; descent
the descendants of a common ancestor; race; stock; line; breed; variety
an inherited or natural characteristic or tendency
a trace; streak
the manner, style, or tone of a speech, book, action, etc.: to write in an angry strain
a passage of music; tune; air
a passage of poetry, esp. of a lyric sort
a flight or outburst of eloquence, profanity, etc.
Taxonomy, Genetics a line of individuals of a certain species or race, differentiated from the main group by certain qualities, often, specif., superior qualities resulting from artificial breeding

See strain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

strain¹

verb strained strained, strain·ing, strains

verb, transitive

To pull, draw, or stretch tight: strained the sheets over the bed.
To exert or tax to the utmost: straining our ears to hear.
To injure or impair by overuse or overexertion; wrench: strain a muscle.
To stretch or force beyond the proper or legitimate limit: strain a point.
Physics To alter (the relations between the parts of a structure or shape) by applying an external force; deform.
a. To pass (gravy, for example) through a filtering agent such as a strainer.
b. To draw off or remove by filtration: strained the pulp from the juice.
To embrace or clasp tightly; hug.

verb, intransitive

To make violent or steady efforts; strive hard: straining to reach the finish line.
To be or become wrenched or twisted.
To be subjected to great stress.
To pull forcibly or violently: The dog strained at its leash.
To stretch or exert one's muscles or nerves to the utmost.
To filter, trickle, or ooze.
To be extremely hesitant; balk: a mule that strained at the lead.

noun

a. The act of straining.
b. The state of being strained.
a. Extreme or laborious effort, exertion, or work.
b. A great or excessive pressure, demand, or stress on one's body, mind, or resources: the strain of managing both a family and a career.
A wrench, twist, or other physical injury resulting from excessive tension, effort, or use.
Physics A deformation produced by stress.
An exceptional degree or pitch: a strain of zealous idealism.

Origin: Middle English streinen, from Old French estreindre, estrein-, to bind tightly, from Latin stringere; see streig- in Indo-European roots.

strain²

noun

The collective descendants of a common ancestor; a race, stock, line, or breed.
Any of the various lines of ancestry united in an individual or a family; ancestry or lineage.
Biology A group of organisms of the same species, having distinctive characteristics but not usually considered a separate breed or variety: a superior strain of wheat; a smooth strain of bacteria.
An artificial variety of a domestic animal or cultivated plant.
A kind or sort: imaginings of a morbid strain.
a. An inborn or inherited tendency or character.
b. An inherent quality; a streak. See Synonyms at streak.
a. The tone, tenor, or substance of a verbal utterance or of a particular action or behavior: spoke in a passionate strain.
b. A prevailing quality, as of attitude or behavior.
Music A passage of expression; a tune or an air. Often use in the plural: melodic strains of the violin.
a. A passage of poetic and especially lyrical expression.
b. An outburst or a flow of eloquent or impassioned language.