strain1
v.
- force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make an unusually great effort.
▸injure (a limb, muscle, or organ) by overexertion.
▸make a strenuous and continuous effort.
- make severe or excessive demands on.
- pull or push forcibly at something.
- pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a sieve or similar device to separate out any solid matter.
▸drain off (liquid) in this way.
n.
- a force tending to strain something to an extreme degree.
▸Physics the magnitude of a deformation, equal to the change in the dimension of a deformed object divided by its original dimension.
- an injury caused by straining a muscle, limb, etc.
- a severe demand on strength or resources.
▸a state of tension or exhaustion resulting from this.
-
(usu. strains)
the sound of a piece of music.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. estreindre, from L. stringere ‘draw tight’.
strain2
n.
- a distinct breed, stock, or variety of an animal, plant, or other organism.
- a tendency in a person's character.
Etymology
OE strīon ‘acquisition, gain’, of Gmc origin.