strain 1 of 3

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as in melody
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect the strain of an old Irish ballad rose up from the revelers downstairs

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strain

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in stress
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time the family's constant moving is putting a real strain on the children

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strain

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure in order to lift something heavy, squat down and lift with your legs, or you'll strain your back

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as in to filter
to pass through a filter better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

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as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan

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as in to tighten
to draw tight the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

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Thesaurus Entries Near strain

Cite this Entry

“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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