Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense strains, present participle straining, past tense, past participle strained
1. variable noun [oft underN]
If strain is put on an organization or system, it has to do more than it is able to do.
The prison service is already under considerable strain.
The vast expansion in secondary education is putting an enormous strain on the system. [+ on]
...the credit crunch caused by strains on the banking system.
Synonyms: pressure, stress, difficulty, demands More Synonyms of strain
2. verb
To strain something means to make it do more than it is able to do.
The volume of scheduled flights is straining the air traffic control system. [VERB noun]
Resources will be further strained by new demands for housing. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: stretch, test, tax, overtax More Synonyms of strain
3. uncountable noun
Strain is a state of worry and tension caused by a difficult situation.
She was tired and under great strain.
...the stresses and strains of a busy and demanding career.
Synonyms: stress, pressure, anxiety, difficulty More Synonyms of strain
4. singular noun
If you say that a situation is a strain, you mean that it makes you worried and tense.
I sometimes find it a strain to be responsible for the mortgage.
5. uncountable noun
Strain is a force that pushes, pulls, or stretches something in a way that may damage it.
Place your hands under your buttocks to take some of the strain off your back.
The large door already places plenty of strain on the hinges.
Synonyms: burden, tension, tightness, tautness More Synonyms of strain
6. variable noun [usually noun NOUN]
Strain is an injury to a muscle in your body, caused by using the muscle too much or twisting it.
Avoid muscle strain by warming up with slow jogging.
...a groin strain.
Synonyms: injury, wrench, sprain, pull More Synonyms of strain
7. verb
If you strain a muscle, you injure it by using it too much or twisting it.
He strained his back during a practice session. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: injure, wrench, sprain, damage More Synonyms of strain
8. verb
If you strainto do something, you make a great effort to do it when it is difficult to do.
I had to strain to hear. [VERB to-infinitive]
Several thousand supporters strained to catch a glimpse of the new president. [VERB to-infinitive]
They strained their eyes, but saw nothing. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: strive, struggle, endeavour, labour More Synonyms of strain
9. verb
When you strain food, you separate the liquid part of it from the solid parts.
Strain the stock and put it back into the pan. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: sieve, filter, sift, screen More Synonyms of strain
10. singular noun
You can use strain to refer to a particular quality in someone's character, remarks, or work.
There was a strain of bitterness in his voice.
...this cynical strain in the book.
Synonyms: trace, suggestion, suspicion, tendency More Synonyms of strain
11. countable noun
A strainof a germ, plant, or other organism is a particular type of it.
Every year new strains of influenza develop. [+ of]
...a particularly beautiful strain of Swiss pansies.
Synonyms: breed, type, stock, family More Synonyms of strain
12. plural noun [usually NOUNof noun]
If you hear the strainsof music, you hear music being played.
[literary]
She could hear the tinny strains of a chamber orchestra.
Synonyms: tune, air, melody, measure [poetic] More Synonyms of strain
13. See also eye strain, repetitive strain injury
More Synonyms of strain
strain in British English1
(streɪn)
verb
1.
to draw or be drawn taut; stretch tight
2.
to exert, tax, or use (resources) to the utmost extent
3.
to injure or damage or be injured or damaged by overexertion
he strained himself
4.
to deform or be deformed as a result of a stress
5. (intransitive)
to make intense or violent efforts; strive
6.
to subject or be subjected to mental tension or stress
7.
to pour or pass (a substance) or (of a substance) to be poured or passed through a sieve, filter, or strainer
8. (transitive)
to draw off or remove (one part of a substance or mixture from another) by or as ifby filtering
9. (transitive)
to clasp tightly; hug
10. (transitive) obsolete
to force or constrain
11. (intransitive; foll byat)
a.
to push, pull, or work with violent exertion (upon)
b.
to strive (for)
c.
to balk or scruple (from)
noun
12.
the act or an instance of straining
13.
the damage resulting from excessive exertion
14.
an intense physical or mental effort
15. music(often plural)
a theme, melody, or tune
16.
a great demand on the emotions, resources, etc
17.
a feeling of tension and tiredness resulting from overwork, worry, etc; stress
18.
a particular style or recurring theme in speech or writing
19. 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
C13: from Old French estreindre to press together, from Latin stringere to bind tightly
strain in British English2
(streɪn)
noun
1.
the main body of descendants from one ancestor
2.
a group of organisms within a species or variety, distinguished by one or more minor characteristics
3.
a variety of bacterium or fungus, esp one used for a culture
4.
a streak; trace
5. archaic
a kind, type, or sort
Word origin
Old English strēon; related to Old High German gistriuni gain, Latin struere to construct
strain in American English1
(streɪn)
verb transitive
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
7.
a.
to pass through a screen, sieve, filter, etc.; filter
b.
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
verb intransitive
10.
to make violent or continual efforts; strive hard
11.
to be or become strained
12.
to be subjected to great stress or pressure
13.
to pull or push with force
14.
to filter, ooze, or trickle
15.
to hesitate or be unwilling; balk (at)
noun
16.
a straining or being strained
17.
great effort, exertion, or tension
18.
an injury to a part of the body as a result of great effort or overexertion
muscle strain
19.
a.
change in form or size, or both, resulting from stress or force
b.
stress or force
20.
a great or excessive demand on one's emotions, resources, etc.
a strain on the imagination
Word origin
ME streinen < OFr estraindre, to strain, wring hard < L stringere, to draw tight: see strict; (sense 15) from a misunderstanding of “strain at a gnat” (Matt. 23:24)
strain in American English2
(streɪn)
noun
1. Obsolete
a.
a begetting
b.
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. [often pl.]
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 and 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
Word origin
ME stren < OE streon, gain, procreation, stock, race < base strynan, streonan, to produce: for IE base see strew
strain in Mechanical Engineering
(streɪn)
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Materials)
Strain is a measure of how much a material changes shape under a force. It is equal to thechange in any dimension divided by the original value of that dimension.
Strain is a measure of the deformation of a body, for example the proportional increasein length when a wire is stretched.
The average linear strain is obtained by dividing the elongation of the length of the specimen by the originallength.
Strain is a measure of how much a material changes shape under a force. It is equal to thechange in any dimension divided by the original value of that dimension.
plane strain, strain gage
Related wordsCompare strain with stress, which is a measure of the internal forces in a material that changes shape undera force. It is equal to the force acting on the material divided by the cross-sectionalarea over which it is acting.
More idioms containing
strain
strain at a gnat
strain at the leash
Examples of 'strain' in a sentence
strain
Push it hard and it feels and sounds strained.
The Sun (2006)
Everyone is different and our backs show the strain in different ways.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Let the gravy bubble for one minute then strain and serve.
The Sun (2014)
Those present strained to catch the meaning of what he was trying to say.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Your relationship with your mum is already strained and the affair would only cause more trouble.
The Sun (2009)
Pity you were straining for something more profound.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They are also worried about the strain the tough year has put on his marriage.
The Sun (2016)
This is a family finding it an enormous strain to be in the spotlight.
The Sun (2010)
She will sense the strain and find her wild ways get her into trouble soon.
The Sun (2013)
Then there is the strain on the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This can mean the idea is sometimes a bit strained.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is not unknown for the strains of classical music to waft across the court.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But just think of your colleagues who will have to take the strain.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The strains on his body were too much.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Plants strained for the sun but reached their limits almost at once.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet an influx of new arrivals can also place a great strain on local resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yet you have to strain to hear her.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That puts a huge strain on particular social services.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is also putting a strain on our family.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Some marriages may be strained by the realisation of just how meagre their retirement is likely to be.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Avoid exercises which make you strain or hold your breath because it means they are too strong for you.
Wallace, Louise M & Bundy, Christine Coping with Angina (1990)
The stresses and strains of forced labor and exposure to European diseases had taken an enormous toll.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
It is unclear where the strain of influenza came from but it was linked with Spain as the country was badly affected.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was the first mutation in a plague of vanity that has now spread across the land like a particularly self-obsessed strain of man flu.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
strain
British English: strain /streɪn/ NOUN
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.
American English: strain
Arabic: جُهْد
Brazilian Portuguese: tensão
Chinese: 负担
Croatian: napor
Czech: nápor
Danish: belastning
Dutch: spanning druk
European Spanish: tensión estrés
Finnish: rasitus
French: effort
German: Belastung
Greek: ένταση
Italian: tensione sforzo
Japanese: 極度の緊張
Korean: 부담
Norwegian: belastning
Polish: napięcie stres
European Portuguese: tensão
Romanian: suprasolicitare
Russian: растяжение
Latin American Spanish: tensión preocupación
Swedish: påfrestning
Thai: ความตึงเครียด
Turkish: stres
Ukrainian: напруження
Vietnamese: sự căng thẳng
British English: strain /streɪn/ VERB
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.
American English: strain
Arabic: يُجْهِدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pressionar
Chinese: 使超过负荷
Croatian: naprezati se
Czech: přepínat namáhat
Danish: lægge pres på
Dutch: belasten
European Spanish: tensar
Finnish: rasittaa
French: s’efforcer
German: belasten
Greek: καταπονώ
Italian: sforzare
Japanese: 緊張させる
Korean: 긴장시키다
Norwegian: belaste
Polish: napiąć
European Portuguese: pressionar
Romanian: a suprasolicita
Russian: растягивать
Latin American Spanish: tensar
Swedish: anstränga sig
Thai: ทำงานหนักเกินไป
Turkish: strese sokmak
Ukrainian: напружувати
Vietnamese: làm căng thẳng
All related terms of 'strain'
eye strain
If you suffer from eye strain , you feel pain around your eyes or at the back of your eyes, because you are very tired or should be wearing glasses .
strain gage
A strain gage is a sensor for measuring the amount of strain on a solid surface.
groin strain
damage to the groin area caused by overexertion , esp suffered by a sports player
mental strain
a state of worry and tension caused by a situation
plane strain
Plane strain is a two-dimensional state of strain in which all the shape changes of a material happen on a single plane.
strain gauge
a device for measuring strain in a machine or other structure, usually consisting of a metal filament that is attached to it and receives the same strain. The strain can be measured by the change in the electrical properties of the filament
breaking strain
the amount of strain that, if applied to a particular material, will cause it to break
Andromeda strain
a hypothetical microorganism , as might be developed from biological research , that if released would uncontrollably kill living things on earth
strain hardening
a process in which a metal is permanently deformed in order to increase its resistance to further deformation
strain at a gnat
to concern yourself with something unimportant , perhaps neglecting something that really is important
strain a relationship
The relationship between two people or groups is the way in which they feel and behave towards each other.
repetitive strain injury
Repetitive strain injury is the same as → RSI .
strain at the leash
to be very eager to do something
stretch a point
If you stretch a point , you describe something in a way which is not accurate , although it may be partly true .
repetitive strain (or stress) injury
an injury causing a condition characterized by sharp pains in the hand, wrist , back, etc. due usually to muscle strain caused by repetitive actions performed as during work or while exercising
re
You use re in business letters , faxes , or other documents to introduce a subject or item which you are going to discuss or refer to in detail .