Strain | Mean of strain in English Dictionary

/ˈstreɪn/

• Noun
• a feeling of stress and worry that you have because you are trying to do too much, are dealing with a difficult problem, etc.
1. The work has been a strain on me. [=it has been stressful for me]
2. The strain of working and going to school full-time was too much for her.
3. He talked about the stresses and strains of owning a business.
4. The long hours at work have put/placed a strain on me.
5. She has been under a strain lately.
6. Help from other workers took some of the strain [=pressure] off me.
7. She has been under (a lot of) strain lately.
8. He is holding up under the strain. [=he is able to deal with the pressure]
9. He cracked/collapsed/buckled under the strain. [=he was not able to deal with the pressure]
• something that is very difficult to deal with and that causes harm or trouble
1. There are strains [=problems] in their relationship.
2. Being deeply in debt has been a strain [=burden] on our marriage.
3. The disagreement has put/placed a strain on their friendship.
4. Sending their children to college has put/placed a strain on their finances.
5. Being in debt has been a source of strain on our marriage.
6. Their friendship is under strain.
• a force that pulls or stretches something
1. The cable is designed to withstand strains of more than four tons.
2. The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous.
3. The cables could not take the strain of the extra weight.
4. If there is too much strain on the cables they will snap.
5. Moving the piano will put/place too much strain on our back muscles.
6. The cable broke under the strain.

• an injury to a body part or muscle that is caused by too much tension, effort, or use
1. a leg/muscle strain
2. Long hours of study can cause eye strain.
3. Heavy lifting is a cause of muscle strain.
• Verb
• to injure (a body part or muscle) by too much tension, use, or effort
1. I strained my back trying to lift the couch.
2. Too much computer work strains the eyes.
3. He strained a muscle in his leg.
• to try very hard to do or get something
1. He was straining for air. [=he was struggling to breathe]
2. He strained to open the jar.
3. She strained to sing the high notes.
4. The people in the back of the room strained to hear the speaker.
5. I strained my ears to hear [=I tried very hard to hear] what they were whispering.
6. I strained my eyes [=I tried very hard to see] in the darkness.
• to be pulled or stretched in a forceful way
1. His muscles strained under the heavy weight.
2. People were straining their necks [=were lifting their heads as high as they could by stretching their necks] to see the fight.
3. You are straining (the limits of) my patience with your nagging.
• to pull hard on or push hard against something
1. The dog strained at its leash.
2. His belly strained against the buttons of the shirt.
3. The kids were straining at the leash to get going. [=were very eager to get going]
• to cause problems or trouble for (something)
1. The disagreement strained their relationship.
2. The rent has strained our finances.
3. The company is financially strained.
• to separate a liquid from solid pieces by using a special device (called a strainer)
1. He strained the pasta. = He strained the water from the pasta.
2. She strained the gravy. = She strained the lumps out of the gravy.
• to injure yourself by making your muscles do too much work
1. Don't strain yourself trying to move the couch.
• to put a lot of physical or mental effort into doing something
1. Don't strain yourself trying to think of the answer. I can tell you what it is.
• Noun
• a group of closely related plants or animals
1. a strong strain of wheat
2. a new strain of bacteria
3. This strain of mice is resistant to the disease.
• a usually bad quality that someone or something has
1. There is a strain of snobbery in her.
2. There is a strain of madness in that family.
• a small amount of something
1. There was a strain [=touch, trace] of sadness in his voice.
• a kind or sort of something
1. a different strain of philosophy
2. a new strain of pop music
• the musical sounds of someone or something
1. We relaxed to the strains of Chopin.
2. the strains of a harp