strain
strain1 / strān/ • v. 1. [tr.] force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make a strenuous or unusually great effort: I stopped and listened, straining my ears for any sound. ∎ injure (a limb, muscle, or organ) by overexerting it or twisting it awkwardly: on cold days you are more likely to strain a muscle glare from the screen can strain your eyes. ∎ [intr.] make a strenuous and continuous effort: his voice was so quiet that I had to strain to hear it. ∎ make severe or excessive demands on: he strained her tolerance to the limit. ∎ [intr.] pull or push forcibly at something: the bear strained at the chain around its neck his stomach was swollen, straining against the thin shirt. ∎ stretch (something) tightly: the barbed wire fence was strained to posts six feet high. ∎ archaic embrace (someone) tightly: she strained the infant to her bosom again.2. [tr.] pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a porous or perforated device or material in order to separate out any solid matter: strain the custard into a bowl. ∎ cause liquid to drain off (food that has been boiled, soaked, or canned) by using such a device. ∎ drain off (liquid) in this way: strain off the surplus fat.• n. 1. a force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging degree: the usual type of chair puts an enormous strain on the spine | aluminum may bend under strain. ∎ Physics the magnitude of a deformation, equal to the change in the dimension of a deformed object divided by its original dimension. ∎ an injury to a part of the body caused by overexertion or twisting a muscle awkwardly: he has a slight groin strain.2. a severe or excessive demand on the strength, resources, or abilities of someone or something: the accusations put a strain on relations between the two countries| she's obviously under considerable strain. ∎ a state of tension or exhaustion resulting from this: the telltale signs of nervous strain.3. (usu. strains) the sound of a piece of music as it is played or performed: through the open windows came the strains of a hurdy-gurdy playing in the street.PHRASES: at (full) strain archaic using the utmost effort.strain every nervesee nerve.strain at the leashsee leash.DERIVATIVES: strain·a·ble adj.strain2 • n. 1. a breed, stock, or variety of an animal or plant developed by breeding. ∎ a natural or cultured variety of a microorganism with a distinct form, biochemistry, or virulence.2. a particular tendency as part of a person's character: there was a powerful strain of insanity on her mother's side of the family. ∎ a variety of a particular abstract thing: a strain of feminist thought.
strain
strain
A. draw tight, stretch XIII; force the sense or application of: force to extreme effort XV;
B. bind or compress tightly (obs. or arch. except in s. to one's bosom, etc.);
C. press through a filtering medium XIV;
D. refl. and intr. exert oneself XIV (in s. at make a difficulty of ‘swallowing’ or accepting XVI, misunderstanding of s. at a gnat in Matt. 23: 24, which means ‘strain the liquor if they find a gnat in it’). ME. strayne, streyne, aphetic — OF. estrei(g)n-, stem of estreindre (mod. étreindre) :- L. stringere draw tight, bind tightly.
Hence or — AF. *estreignour strainer (-ER1) filter, sieve. XIV.
strain
strain
1. n. excessive stretching or working of a muscle, resulting in pain and swelling. Compare sprain.
2. n. a group of organisms obtained from a particular source or having special properties distinguishing them from other members of the same species.
3. vb. to damage a muscle by overstretching.
strain
strain
strain
strain at the leash be eager to begin or do something.