strain

1 :  an act of straining or the condition of being strained: such asa :  bodily injury from excessive tension, effort, or use heart strain; especially :  one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving undue stretching of muscles or ligaments back strainb :  excessive or difficult exertion or laborc :  excessive physical or mental tension; also :  a force, influence, or factor causing such tension a strain on the marriaged :  deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces

2 :  an unusual reach, degree, or intensity :  pitch

3 archaic :  a strained interpretation of something said or written

1 :  a group of closely related living things that look similar but possess one or more unique characteristics Scientists are developing a new strain of wheat.

2 :  a quality or disposition that runs through a family or group There's a strain of genius in that family.

3 :  a small amount :  trace There was a strain of sadness in his voice.

4 :  melody 2, tune

1 :  to stretch or be stretched, pulled, or used to the limit My muscles strained under the load.

2 :  to stretch beyond a proper limit The story strains the truth.

3 :  to try very hard :  make a great effort People in the back strained to hear.

4 :  to injure or be injured by too much or too hard use or effort Don't strain your back.

5 :  to press or pass through a strainer :  filter strain juice

6 :  to pour off liquid from by using a strainer Boil and then strain the pasta.

1 :  great worry and concern or physical effort Perhaps, the pressures of everyday stress and strain had gotten her down. — E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

2 :  something that causes great worry and concern or physical effort Running the business was a strain on him. The heavy load was a strain on her back.

3 :  bodily injury resulting from too much use or from a wrench or twist that stretches muscles and ligaments

4 :  a force that pulls or stretches something to its limit :  stress

:  a group of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut physiological but usually not morphological distinctions a highly virulent strain of bacteria

1a:  to exert (as oneself) to the utmostb:  to injure by overuse, misuse, or excessive pressure strained his heart by overworkc:  to cause a change of form or size in (a body) by application of external force

2:  to cause to pass through a strainer

:  an act of straining or the condition of being strained: asa:  excessive physical or mental tension; also :  a force, influence, or factor causing such tensionb:  bodily injury from excessive tension, effort, or use heart strain; especially :  one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving undue stretching of muscles or ligaments back strain—compare sprainc:  deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces