strain

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈstrān 

1

a

: lineage, ancestry

b

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

a high-yielding strain of winter wheat

broadly : a specified infraspecific group (such as a stock, line, or ecotype)

c

: kind, sort

discussions of a lofty strain

2

a

: inherited or inherent character, quality, or disposition

a strain of weakness in the family

b

: trace, streak

a strain of fanaticism

3

a

: tune, air

b

: a passage of verbal or musical expression

c

: a stream or outburst of forceful or impassioned speech

4

a

: the tenor, pervading note, burden, or tone of an utterance or of a course of action or conduct

b

: mood, temper

strain

2 of 3

verb

strained; straining; strains

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 (oneself, one's senses, etc.) 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: such 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 : extort

intransitive 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

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: an act of straining or the condition of being strained: such as

a

: 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

b

: excessive or difficult exertion or labor

c

: excessive physical or mental tension

also : a force, influence, or factor causing such tension

a strain on the marriage

d

: 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

Phrases

strain a point

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

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• breeding
• descent
• extraction
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock

Verb

• pull
• rack
• stretch
• wrench

Noun (2)

• pressure
• stress
• tension

Example Sentences

Verb

I strained my back trying to lift the couch.

Too much computer work strains the eyes.

He strained a muscle in his leg.

His muscles strained under the heavy weight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Grass can build up in the crevices under the deck, which can ultimately make the mower less effective at cutting and put extra strain on the motor. —Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 22 Mar. 2023

More people will seek procedural abortions, putting a strain on clinics and increasing wait times for procedures. —Grace Segers, The New Republic, 22 Mar. 2023

Key Background The collapse of SVB has put significant strain on other regional banks, which has led to broader worries about the stability of the American banking system and smaller banks in particular. —Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023

At current levels of warming, for instance, food production is starting to come under strain. —Brad Plumer, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023

Investors worry banks are cracking under the strain of unexpectedly fast, large rate hikes over the past year to cool economic activity and inflation. —Joe Mcdonald, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2023

Investors worry banks are cracking under the strain of unexpectedly fast, large rate hikes over the past year to cool economic activity and inflation. —Joe Mcdonald, ajc, 20 Mar. 2023

At current levels of warming, for instance, food production is starting to come under strain. —Brad Plumer, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2023

The goal is to ensure that central banks can hold on to easy access to dollar funding, which can dry up when the market is under strain. —Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023

Verb

Both used years of natural selection to find a naturally seedless strain, and do not employ GMOs to rid the fruit of seeds. —Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023

The director does not have to strain to find the parallels. —Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023

Stretch and strain to cover shooters, leaving openings inside? —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023

Straining the system Lately, this scene has been repeating itself more often, prompting Canadian officials to bus recently arrived asylum-seekers to other provinces to help deal with a strain on resources in Quebec. —Polo Sandoval, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023

Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain syrup to remove mint and berries. —Juliana Hale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2023

Using fine-mesh strainer, strain liquid and discard. —Tina Martinez, Good Housekeeping, 10 Mar. 2023

But that suspicion faded in early October, when genetic testing showed the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah were all caused by the same bacteria strain — a version of the germ that hadn’t been seen anywhere before. —Mike Stobbe, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023

But that suspicion faded in early October, when genetic testing showed the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah were all caused by the same bacteria strain — a version of the germ that hadn’t been seen anywhere before. —Mike Stobbe, Fortune Well, 28 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English streen progeny, lineage, from Old English strēon gain, acquisition; akin to Old High German gistriuni gain, Latin struere to heap up — more at strew

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1558, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing strain

• strain one's ears
• strain one's neck
• strain gauge
• strain one's eyes
• strain at the leash
• strain a point
• under (a/the) strain
• strain oneself
• inter-strain
• repetitive strain injury

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• strain one's ears
• strain one's neck
• strain gauge
• strain one's eyes
• strain at the leash
• strain a point
• under (a/the) strain
• strain oneself
• inter-strain
• repetitive strain injury

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Kids Definition

strain

1 of 3 noun

ˈstrān 

1

a

: lineage, ancestry

b

: a group of plants or animals that look alike but have characteristics (as the ability to resist disease) that make them slightly different : variety sense 3b

a strong strain of winter wheat

2

a

: a quality or disposition that is natural or runs through a family

a strain of genius in the family

b

: a small amount : trace, streak

a strain of sadness

3

: melody sense 2, tune

4

: the manner or style of something said or of a course of action or conduct

strain

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to draw tight : cause to clasp firmly

b

: to stretch to maximum extension and tightness

2

a

: to try one's hardest : strive

b

: to injure or be injured by overuse, misuse, or pressure

strained the heart by overwork

strain one's back by lifting

3

a

: to pass or cause to pass through or as if through a strainer : filter

b

: to remove by straining

strain lumps out of the gravy

4

: to stretch beyond a proper limit

strain the truth

strain

3 of 3 noun

1

: an act of straining or the state of being strained

2

: bodily injury caused by too much tension, effort, or use

heart strain

especially : one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving severe stretching of muscles or ligaments

back strain

Medical Definition

strain

1 of 3 noun

ˈstrān 

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

a highly virulent strain of bacteria

strain

2 of 3 transitive verb

1

a

: to exert (as oneself) to the utmost

b

: to injure by overuse, misuse, or excessive pressure

strained his heart by overwork

c

: to cause a change of form or size in (a body) by application of external force

2

: to cause to pass through a strainer

intransitive verb

: to contract the muscles forcefully in attempting to defecate

—often used in the phrase strain at stool

strain

3 of 3 noun

: an act of straining or the condition of being strained: as

a

: excessive physical or mental tension

also : a force, influence, or factor causing such tension

b

: 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 sprain

c

: deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces