Main Entry: ²strain

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estreindre, from Latin stringere to bind or draw tight, press together; akin to Greek strang-, stranx drop squeezed out, strangalē halter

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to draw tight : cause to fit firmly <strain the bandage over the wound> b : to stretch to maximum extension and tautness <strain a canvas over a frame>
2 a : to exert (as oneself) to the utmost b : to injure by overuse, misuse, or excessive pressure <strained his back> c : to cause a change of form or size in (a body) by application of external force
3 : to squeeze or clasp tightly: as a : hug b : to compress painfully : constrict
4 a : to cause to pass through a strainer : filter b : to remove by straining <strain lumps out of the gravy>
5 : to stretch beyond a proper limit <that story strains my credulity>
6 obsolete : to squeeze out : extortintransitive verb 1 a : to make violent efforts : strive <has to strain to reach the high notes> b : to pull against resistance <a dog straining at its leash> c : to contract the muscles forcefully in attempting to defecate —often used in the phrase strain at stool
2 : to pass through or as if through a strainer <the liquid strains readily>
3 : to make great difficulty or resistance : balk

— strain a point : to go beyond a usual, accepted, or proper limit or rule