Definition of strain - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
filteringseparate liquid from solid using a filter
- Strain the pasta before serving.
2.
physical actionpull or stretch tightly
- He strained his eyes trying to read the small print..
3.
psychologycause mental or emotional stress
- The long hours began to strain his patience.
4.
injuryTECH. injure by overexertion or twistingTECH.
- She strained her ankle during the hike.
5.
efforttr./intr. Rare make a great effort to achieve somethingtr./intr. Rare
- He strained to hear the distant music.
Noun
1.
emotionfeeling of stress or tension
- The job's demands put a strain on her health.
2.
medicalTECH. injury to a muscle or similar body part by overuseTECH.
- He suffered a strain in his shoulder during the match..
3.
physical forceTECH. force exerted on a material to deform itTECH.
- The metal showed signs of strain after the test..
4.
efforteffortful attempt or exertion
- He made a strain to lift the heavy box.
5.
biologyTECH. breed, stock, or variety of an animal or plant developed by breedingTECH.
- They developed a new strain of wheat that resists pests..
6.
musicDated passage of music or melodyDated
- The soft strains of the violin filled the room..
Expressions with strain
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make a great effort to achieve something difficult
She strained after the promotion despite the challenges.
to be difficult to believe
His excuse for being late strains credulity.
focus the eyes intensely to see something
He had to strain his eyes to read the small print.
suddenly stop coping because strong pressure becomes too much
After weeks of criticism, he finally crack under the strain.
notice the effects of pressure
After hours of hiking, you will feel the strain on your legs.
display signs of stress or pressure
After weeks of overtime, he began to show the strain.
exert oneself fully, mentally or physically, to reach a goal
She strained every muscle to finish the climb before dark.
test the maximum capacity
The new software strained the limits of the old hardware.
to give in or yield to overwhelming pressure
She finally caved under the strain of her demanding job.
endure pressure or stress without breaking
The bridge can stand the strain of heavy traffic.
eagerly try to do something
The children strained at the leash to open their presents.
make every possible effort to achieve something
She strained every nerve to win the race.
try very hard to hear something
She strained her ears to catch the faint sound of footsteps.
exaggerate facts to make them seem more significant
He tends to strain the truth about his achievements.
accept responsibility or burden
She had to take the strain of managing the project alone.
remove water from cooked potatoes using a strainer
After boiling, strain the potatoes before mashing them.
cause stress or make something difficult
Working late every night can be a strain.
tension due to emotional challenges
He experienced mental strain after the argument.
painful tightness in a muscle after heavy or repeated use
After moving boxes, she felt a muscle strain in her lower back.
cause stress or difficulty for someone or something
The long hours place a strain on workers.
create tension or difficulty
Financial problems can put a strain on relationships.
make someone feel nervous, stressed, or irritated
The loud noise strained my nerves all night.
experiencing pressure or stress
The team is under strain to meet the deadline.
make an effort to hear something faint
She strained her ears to catch the whisper.
Origin of strain
Latin, stringere (to bind)
Terms with strain included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
medical
be unable or almost unable to speak because of illness or strain
medical
become unable to speak due to illness or strain
mental strain
makes you feel worried, tense, or under pressure
strained noise
sound made by something under strain
wellness
reduce mental or emotional strain
fatigue
exhaust someone through continued strain
psychology
state of mental or emotional strain or tension
emotional state
experiencing mental or emotional strain
burden
burdensome demand or strain
health
cause strain or stress
hardware
small device that holds a cable firmly to stop movement or strain
mental strain
fail to perform well when stressed
figurative
suffer from strain or old age
stress
sense a state of mental strain
finance
experiencing financial strain or pressure
strong strain
too stressed to stay calm or think clearly
mental strain
have reduced ability to think clearly due to nervous strain
medical
cause someone or something to experience pressure or strain
exhaustion
worn out from stress or strain
emotional state
under mental or emotional strain
group mood
worry, strain or pressure keeps rising in a situation
conflict emotion
emotional strain or conflict growing stronger among people
unexpected pitch
sudden unwanted change in voice pitch from emotion or strain
injury care
supportive strip worn on the hand joint, often for strain recovery
Examples of strain in a sentence
You need to strain the juice to get rid of pulp. She strained her muscles lifting the heavy box. The rope strained under the weight. The constant noise strained her nerves. Financial worries strained their relationship. He strained his back lifting the heavy box.
The athlete strained a muscle during the sprint. She strained to lift the heavy box. They strained to finish the project on time. The strain of the deadline was evident in his voice. She felt a strain in her relationship due to constant arguments. The athlete's leg strain required weeks of physical therapy. A severe strain in his back kept him bedridden. The strain on the bridge was too much to bear. Engineers measured the strain on the new material. The strain of the marathon was evident on his face. She felt a strain in her back after moving the furniture. This strain of bacteria is resistant to antibiotics. Scientists are studying a new strain of the virus. The strains of the piano echoed in the hall. He hummed a familiar strain as he worked.
View all translations of strain
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:égoutter, tension, ...
- German:abseihen, Belastung, ...
- Italian:scolare, pressione, ...
- Spanish:colar, tensión, ...
- Portuguese:coar, pressão, ...
- Chinese:过滤, 压力, ...
- Japanese:こす, 負担, ...
- Arabic:صَفَّى, ضغط, ...
- Hebrew:לְסַנֵּן, מֶתַח, ...
- Russian:цедить, напряжение, ...
- Ukrainian:проціджувати, напруга, ...
- Hindi:छानना, दबाव, ...
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