Collins English-English Dictionary

strain [streɪn]

1. 1. vb to draw or be drawn taut; stretch tight

2. 2. vb to exert, tax, or use (resources) to the utmost extent

3. 3. vb to injure or damage or be injured or damaged by overexertion

   he strained himself

4. 4. vb to deform or be deformed as a result of a stress

5. 5. vi. [intr] to make intense or violent efforts; strive

6. 6. vi. to subject or be subjected to mental tension or stress

7. 7. vi. to pour or pass (a substance) or (of a substance) to be poured or passed through a sieve, filter, or strainer

8. 8. vt. [tr] to draw off or remove (one part of a substance or mixture from another) by or as if by filtering

9. 9. vt. [tr] to clasp tightly; hug

10. 10. vt. [tr] [obsolete] to force or constrain

11. 11. vi. [intr; foll by at] to push, pull, or work with violent exertion (upon)

12. 12. vi. to strive (for)

13. 13. vi. to balk or scruple (from)

14. 14. n the act or an instance of straining

15. 15. n the damage resulting from excessive exertion

16. 16. n an intense physical or mental effort

17. 17. n [music] [often plural] a theme, melody, or tune

18. 18. n a great demand on the emotions, resources, etc

19. 19. n a feeling of tension and tiredness resulting from overwork, worry, etc; stress

20. 20. n a particular style or recurring theme in speech or writing

21. 21. n [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

22. 22. n [Etymology] C13: from Old French estreindre to press together, from Latin stringere to bind tightly

strain [streɪn]

1. 1. n the main body of descendants from one ancestor

2. 2. n a group of organisms within a species or variety, distinguished by one or more minor characteristics

3. 3. n a variety of bacterium or fungus, esp one used for a culture

4. 4. n a streak; trace

5. 5. n [archaic] a kind, type, or sort

6. 6. n [Etymology] Old English streon; related to Old High German gistriuni gain, Latin struere to construct