26984 words

strain

19 definitions • 32 examples
1

Examples:

put a strain on The hurricane put such a strain on the bridge that it collapsed.
As you get older, excess weight puts a lot of strain on the heart.
Their constant arguments were putting a strain on their marriage.
The recent decline in the dollar has put a bigger strain on the economic system.
Migration into the cities is putting a strain on already stretched resources.
2
an injury to a muscle or similar soft part of the body caused by using that part too much:

Examples:

a groin/hamstring strain
3
something that makes you feel nervous and worried:

Examples:

stresses and strains She's a lot better than she was but she's still not ready to face the stresses and strains of a job.
under strain He's been under a lot of strain recently.
4

Examples:

strain of A strain of puritanism runs through all her work.
5
an animal or plant from a particular group whose characteristics are different in some way from others of the same group:

Examples:

strain of Scientists have discovered a new strain of the virus which is much more dangerous.
6
the sound of music being played or performed:

Examples:

strains of I could hear the strains of Mozart in the background.
7
to separate liquid food from solid food, especially by pouring it through a utensil with small holes in it:

Examples:

Could you strain the vegetables, please.
be strained off The oil in which the fish is fried is strained off and used to cook potatoes.
8
to become stretched or to experience pressure, or to make something do or experience this:

Examples:

I've put on such a lot of weight recently - this dress is straining at the seams.
I strained a muscle in my back playing squash.
strain your eyes Don't watch TV in the dark - you'll strain your eyes!
[ + to infinitive ] figurative I really had to strain (= try very hard) to reach those top notes.
strain (your ears) figurative I was straining (my ears) (= listening hard) to hear what they were saying.
9
to cause too much of something to be used, especially money:

Examples:

Increases in wholesale oil prices have strained the company's finances.
10
something that causes anxiety, worry, or difficulty:

Examples:

[ U ] Loss of funding has put a lot of strain on the day-care center.
[ C ] The benefits of keeping our daughter at home make the strains of having only one income worthwhile.
11

Examples:

The bookcase collapsed under the strain.
12
an injury caused by working the muscles too hard:

Examples:

Running puts a strain on your heart.
13
an animal or plant that is only slightly different from other animals or plants of the same type:

Examples:

A new strain of the virus has been found.
14
A strain is also a quality that gives something a particular character:

Examples:

There has long been a populist strain in American politics.
15
A strain is also a particular sound:

Examples:

Strains of piano music drifted across the room.
16
to separate solid pieces from a liquid by pouring it through a utensil with small holes at the bottom of it or through a cloth:

Examples:

[ T ] Strain the liquid and discard the vegetables.
17
to cause anxiety or problems:

Examples:

This relationship has been strained almost to the breaking point.
18
to create pressure or use effort:

Examples:

The dog strained at the leash, pulling his master along.
[ + to infinitive ] I had to strain to hear the audio.
19
to cause an injury by working the muscles too hard:

Examples:

I strained my back carrying those boxes.

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