# strain

Pronunciation: US say "STRAYN" /stɹeɪn/; UK

## Noun

1. An injury to a muscle or tendon resulting from violent effort or overexertion.
   - Simple: A muscle or tendon injury caused by stretching or working it too hard.
   - _The doctor diagnosed a hamstring strain and advised two weeks of rest._
   - _Repeated heavy lifting left him with a chronic lower-back strain._
2. A violent or excessive effort, or the harmful tension it places on the muscles.
   - Simple: A very hard effort that puts too much pressure or tension on the body.
   - _Years of physical labor put a constant strain on his back muscles._
   - _The sudden strain of the heavy pull tore something in his shoulder._
6. A particular variety of a microbe, virus, or other organism, usually a group below the species level.
   - Simple: A specific type of a germ, virus, or other tiny living thing.
   - _Researchers isolated a drug-resistant strain of the bacterium._
   - _The vaccine targets several strains of the virus._
7. The act of filtering or stretching something, or the state of being stretched or filtered.
   - Simple: The act of filtering something, or the state of being stretched tight.
   - _Constant strain on the cables eventually weakened the structure._
   - _The slow strain of the broth through the cheesecloth clarified it._
13. A dimensionless measure of how much an object has deformed, expressed as either engineering strain or true strain.
   - Simple: A number that shows how much something has stretched or squashed compared to its starting size.
   - _The sensor recorded a strain of about 0.002 along the loaded axis._
   - _At higher loads, the measured strain no longer increased linearly with stress._
14. An inherited character, quality, tendency, or disposition.
   - Simple: An inherited quality or tendency passed down through a family.
   - _There is a stubborn strain that surfaces in every generation of the family._
   - _Critics detected a melancholy strain inherited from his mother's people._
15. A sustained passage of music or song; a distinct section of a poem, or the prevailing mood running through it.
   - Simple: A part of a tune or song, or the main feeling that runs through a piece of music or poem.
   - _The orchestra opened with a gentle strain that filled the hall._
   - _Melancholy strains drifted from the upstairs window._
16. Eloquent, poetic, or otherwise heightened language.
   - Simple: A way of speaking or writing that is grand, beautiful, or poetic.
   - _The speech rose to a lofty strain as it neared its close._
   - _He praised the bride in the highest strain imaginable._

## Verb

3. To damage something by drawing, stretching, or applying force to it.
   - Simple: To damage something by pulling or stretching it too hard.
   - _Lifting the engine alone could strain the chain beyond its limit._
   - _She strained a muscle reaching for the top shelf._
4. To remove solid pieces from a liquid, or drain liquid away from solids, using a strainer or colander.
   - Simple: To pour a mix through a strainer so the liquid passes through and the solid stays behind.
   - _Strain the stock through a fine sieve to catch the herbs._
   - _He strained the tea leaves out before serving._
5. To exert or struggle to do something, especially pushing one's senses or abilities beyond what is comfortable.
   - Simple: To push your body or mind hard to do something difficult.
   - _Readers must strain to grasp the philosopher's dense argument._
   - _He strained to make out the figures moving in the fog._
8. To stretch something, such as a meaning or interpretation, beyond its proper limit.
   - Simple: To stretch the meaning of something too far, so it no longer feels right.
   - _Critics argue the ruling would strain the law's intent past recognition._
   - _His interpretation strains the plain meaning of the contract._
9. To apply force to something by stretching it out.
   - Simple: To pull something tight by stretching it.
   - _Workers strain the cables before locking them in place._
   - _The press strained the metal sheet flat._
10. To produce or force something with apparent effort, making it seem unnatural or uneasy.
   - Simple: To force something out in a way that looks unnatural or uncomfortable.
   - _Guests often strain a smile when the conversation grows awkward._
   - _He strained a cheerful tone to hide his disappointment._
11. To pass through a filter; to percolate.
   - Simple: To pass slowly through a filter.
   - _Let the broth strain through the mesh overnight._
   - _The liquid strained slowly into the jar below._
12. To act on something so as to cause a change in its shape or volume, as when bending a beam.
   - Simple: To push or bend something so that it changes shape or size.
   - _Engineers calculate how much force will strain the bridge deck._
   - _The applied load strained the column until it buckled._
17. To hold or hug someone tightly against oneself.
   - Simple: To hold someone tightly in your arms.
   - _The mother strained her newborn close as the train pulled away._
   - _Returning soldiers strain their families tight on the platform._
18. To urge or press someone insistently.
   - Simple: To keep asking someone for something in a strong, pushy way.
   - _Reporters strain officials for answers at every turn._
   - _The committee strained the minister for a clear commitment._

## Noun

19. A person's race, lineage, or pedigree. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A person's family line or ancestry.
   - _She was proud to be of ancient and honorable strain._
   - _The colt came of a celebrated strain._
20. A particular kind or sort, especially of a person. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A particular kind or type of person.
   - _He was a curious strain of scholar who shunned all recognition._
   - _They were a hardy strain of pioneer, used to hardship._
22. Wealth or treasure; accumulated riches. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Valuable things, like riches or treasure.
   - _The king's strain lay hidden deep within the castle vaults._
   - _Pirates fought bitterly over the buried strain._
23. A small vessel carrying blood within an egg yolk. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The small blood vessel found in the yolk of an egg.
   - _The cook removed the strain from each yolk before baking._
   - _He pointed to the dark strain threading through the yolk._
24. The track or trail left by a passing deer. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The trail or tracks left by a deer.
   - _The hounds picked up the strain at dawn and gave chase._
   - _Old foresters could read the strain across the frozen ground._

## Verb

21. To hold tightly; to clasp. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To hold something or someone very tightly.
25. To beget or engender; to mate; to be born and come into the world. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To bring young into being, or to be born into the world.

## Origin

**Meanings 6, 14–16, 19–20, 22–23** — From Middle English streen ("race, stock, generation"), from Old English strēon, ġestrēon ("gain, wealth"), from Proto-Germanic *streuną ("heap, treasure, profit, gain") and ultimately Proto-Indo-European *strew- ("to spread, strew"). It was confused in Middle English with a related noun from Old English strȳnd ("race; stock").
**Meanings 1–5, 7–13, 17–18, 21, 24** — From Middle English straynen, from Old French estreindre (source of French étreindre, "to grip"), from Latin stringō ("to draw tight together, to tie").
**Meaning 25** — From Middle English strenen ("to beget, father, procreate"), from Old English strēonan, strȳnan ("to beget, generate, gain, acquire"), from Proto-Germanic *striunijaną ("to furnish, decorate, acquire").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/strain (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).