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strain¹ Definition

strain (strān)

transitive verb

  1. to draw or stretch tight
  2. to exert, use, or tax to the utmost to strain every nerve
  3. to overtax; injure by overexertion; wrench to strain a muscle
  4. to injure or weaken by force, pressure, etc. the wind strained the roof
  5. to stretch or force beyond the normal, customary, or legitimate limits to strain a rule to one's own advantage
  6. 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.
  8. to hug or embrace: now only in strain to one's bosom (or heart, etc.)
  9. Obsolete to force; constrain

Etymology: ME streinen < OFr estraindre, to strain, wring hard < L stringere, to draw tight: see strict

intransitive verb

  1. to make violent or continual efforts; strive hard
  2. to be or become strained
  3. to be subjected to great stress or pressure
  4. to pull or push with force
  5. to filter, ooze, or trickle

  6. Etymology: from a misunderstanding of “strain at a gnat” (Matt. 23:24)

    to hesitate or be unwilling; balk (at)

noun

  1. a straining or being strained
  2. great effort, exertion, or tension
  3. 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
  5. a great or excessive demand on one's emotions, resources, etc. a strain on the imagination

strain² Definition

strain (strān)

noun

  1. Obsolete
    1. a begetting
    2. offspring
  2. ancestry; lineage; descent
  3. the descendants of a common ancestor; race; stock; line; breed; variety
  4. an inherited or natural characteristic or tendency
  5. a trace; streak
  6. the manner, style, or tone of a speech, book, action, etc. to write in an angry strain
  7. a passage of music; tune; air
  8. a passage of poetry, esp. of a lyric sort
  9. a flight or outburst of eloquence, profanity, etc.
  10. 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

Etymology: ME stren < OE streon, gain, procreation, stock, race < base strynan, streonan, to produce: for IE base see strew

strain Synonyms

strain

n.

  1. Effort

    exertion, struggle, endeavor; see effort 1.

  2. Mental tension

    anxiety, tension, pressure; see stress 3.

  3. A bodily injury less than a sprain

    wrench, twist, stretch, ache, jerk, bruise, charley horse.

  4. Pressure

    tension, force, pull; see stress 2.

strain Synonyms

strain

v.

  1. To exert

    strive, endeavor, labor; see try 1.

  2. To wrench

    twist, sprain, distort; see hurt 1, wrench.

  3. To stretch

    rack, extend, draw tight; see stretch 2, tighten 1.

  4. To filter

    refine, purify, screen; see filter 2, sift 2.

strain Usage Examples

Object

  • sinew: We must now strain every sinew to make the world demonstrate next March.

Preposition: at

  • leash: So we wait impatiently and straining at the leash.

Preposition: through

  • sieve: Strain through a sieve and leave the custard to cool before placing in the fridge to chill for 20 minutes.

Adjective modifier

  • h5n1: The current H5N1 strain of avian flu virus does not transmit easily from birds to mammals like cats.
  • virulent: The more virulent strains are almost entirely resistant to antibiotics.
  • resistant: Vulnerable strains of bacterium were replaced by resistant strains.
  • pathogenic: In addition to the persistent, non-pathogenic BVDV, a pathogenic strain can always be isolated with mucosal disease.
  • inbred: Two fruit flies from inbred strains, which are in effect clones, can be physically different.

Modifies a noun

  • gage: Detection of strain gage errors is important in the accurate measurement of the fatigue life of an aircrafts airframe.
  • gage: The OM2 modules interface directly with sensors or analog signals such as strain gages, mV, thermocouples and RTD's.

Noun used with modifier

  • groin: Also I was carrying a groin strain that wasn't making life sweet.
  • hamstring: Treatment for hamstring strain depends largely on the severity of the injury.
  • thigh: Jon Woodgate was replaced by Danny Hay after 15 minutes with a thigh strain, and the writing was on the wall.
  • shear: The latter is termed as the shear strain energy, which has been shown to be a primary cause of elastic failure.
  • breaking: Line range would be between 6lb breaking strain and 12lb breaking strain.
  • calf: Neil Sharp, his deputy in midweek, picked up a calf strain at Bootham Crescent and faces a late fitness test.

Particle object:

  • gnat: You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Preposition: of

  • flu: What strains of flu are in this year's vaccination?
  • influenza: During 1918, there was a worldwide pandemic of a virulent strain of influenza.
  • bacterium: If the same strains of bacteria occur, they should be treated.
strain Quotes

The Big Bow-wow strain I can do myself like any now going; but the exquisite touch, which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting, from the truth of description and the sentiment, is denied to me.

—Scott, Sir Walter

The pipe with solemn interposing puff, Makes half a sentence at a time enough; The dozing sages drop the drowsy strain, Then pause, and pufföand speak, and pause again.

—Cowper,William

So in all humours sportively I range; My muse is rightly of the English strain, That cannot long one fashion entertain.

—Drayton, Michael

Beneath the strain of expectation even the little iced sugar cakes upon the tea-table looked green with worry.

—Firbank, (ArthurAnnesley) Ronald

A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections.

—Eliot, George pseudonym of  MaryAnn Evans

O that the spirit could remain tinged but untarnished by its strain!

—Lowell, RobertTraill Spence,Jr