strain

strain1 [ streın ] noun **

▸ 1 pressure

▸ 2 injury

▸ 3 type of animal etc.

▸ 4 characteristic

▸ 5 sound

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count or uncount pressure caused by a difficult situation:

a strain on something: This war will put a great strain on the economy.

the strain of something: I don't think our relationship can stand the strain of another move.

a ) physical effort or pressure:

under strain: All that lifting is putting his back under severe strain.

b ) mental pressure or worry: STRESS:

under strain: Eleanor was feeling overworked and under strain.

2. ) count or uncount an injury caused by twisting or stretching a muscle too much:

a thigh strain

3. ) count a particular type of animal, insect, or plant:

strain of: a strain of human flu virus

4. ) count a particular aspect of someone's character or feelings:

strain of: There's a strain of meanness that runs in their family.

5. ) strains plural LITERARY the sound of some music

take the strain

1. ) to pull and hold something so that it stays tight

2. ) to do the difficult work or deal with the pressure so that someone else does not have to

strain

strain 2 [ streın ] verb **

▸ 1 try hard to do something

▸ 2 make relationship bad

▸ 3 injure muscle

▸ 4 separate solid & liquid

▸ 5 pull/push something hard

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to try very hard to do something:

strain to do something: I strained to hear what they were saying.

strain for: onlookers straining for a view of the celebrity

strain yourself: I could keep up with him, without straining myself.

a ) strain your eyes/ears to try very hard to see or hear something

2. ) transitive to make a relationship uncomfortable and not friendly:

Negotiations between the two nations had been strained since the war.

3. ) transitive to injure yourself by twisting or stretching a muscle too much:

I've strained a muscle in my shoulder.

strain your back/eyes: Reading in poor light can strain your eyes.

4. ) transitive to separate a solid from a liquid by pouring it into a STRAINER

5. ) intransitive to pull at something very hard:

strain at: The elephants strained at their ropes.

a ) to push against something very hard:

strain against: Tommy was straining against the straps of his car seat.

straining at the leash

impatient to do something