Definition of Strain

1. Noun. (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces.

Category relationships: Natural Philosophy, Physics
Generic synonyms: Deformation
Specialized synonyms: Overstrain

2. Verb. To exert much effort or energy. "Straining our ears to hear"

3. Noun. Difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension. "He presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger"
Exact synonyms: Stress
Generic synonyms: Difficulty
Derivative terms: Stress

4. Verb. Test the limits of. "You are trying my patience!"
Exact synonyms: Stress, Try
Generic synonyms: Afflict
Specialized synonyms: Rack
Derivative terms: Stress, Stress, Stressor

5. Noun. A succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence. "She was humming an air from Beethoven"

6. Verb. Use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity. "Don't strain your mind too much"
Exact synonyms: Extend
Generic synonyms: Apply, Employ, Use, Utilise, Utilize
Specialized synonyms: Overextend, Overstrain, Task, Tax
Derivative terms: Straining

7. Noun. (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress. "The mental strain of staying alert hour after hour was too much for him"
Exact synonyms: Mental Strain, Nervous Strain
Category relationships: Psychological Science, Psychology
Generic synonyms: Nerves, Nervousness
Specialized synonyms: Stress, Tenseness, Tension

8. Verb. Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements. "Sift the flour"
Exact synonyms: Sieve, Sift
Generic synonyms: Separate
Specialized synonyms: Rice, Resift, Riddle, Screen, Fan, Winnow
Derivative terms: Sieve, Sieve, Sifter, Sifting, Strainer
Also: Sieve Out

9. Noun. A special variety of domesticated animals within a species. "He created a new strain of sheep"
Exact synonyms: Breed, Stock
Generic synonyms: Animal Group, Variety
Specialized synonyms: Bloodstock, Pedigree
Group relationships: Species
Derivative terms: Breed, Breed, Stock

10. Verb. Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious. "He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
Exact synonyms: Tense, Tense Up
Generic synonyms: Affect
Causes: Tense, Tense Up
Specialized synonyms: Extend, Stretch
Antonyms: Unstrain, Relax
Derivative terms: Tension

11. Noun. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups. "A new strain of microorganisms"
Exact synonyms: Form, Var., Variant
Category relationships: Biological Science, Biology
Generic synonyms: Taxon, Taxonomic Category, Taxonomic Group
Group relationships: Species
Derivative terms: Variant

12. Verb. Become stretched or tense or taut. "The rope strained when the weight was attached"
Exact synonyms: Tense
Generic synonyms: Tighten
Derivative terms: Tension, Tension

13. Noun. Injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain.
Generic synonyms: Harm, Hurt, Injury, Trauma

14. Verb. Remove by passing through a filter. "Filter out the impurities"
Exact synonyms: Filter, Filter Out, Filtrate, Separate Out
Generic synonyms: Separate
Derivative terms: Filter, Filtrate, Filtration, Filtration, Filter, Filtrate, Strainer

15. Noun. The general meaning or substance of an utterance. "Although I disagreed with him I could follow the tenor of his argument"
Exact synonyms: Tenor
Generic synonyms: Meaning, Substance
Specialized synonyms: Drift, Purport

16. Verb. Rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender. "Puree the vegetables for the baby"
Exact synonyms: Puree
Category relationships: Cookery, Cooking, Preparation
Generic synonyms: Rub
Derivative terms: Puree

17. Noun. An effortful attempt to attain a goal.
Exact synonyms: Nisus, Pains, Striving
Generic synonyms: Attempt, Effort, Endeavor, Endeavour, Try
Specialized synonyms: Jehad, Jihad
Derivative terms: Strenuous, Strive

Exact synonyms: Deform, Distort
Generic synonyms: Form, Shape
Specialized synonyms: Jaundice
Derivative terms: Deformation

19. Noun. An intense or violent exertion.
Exact synonyms: Straining
Generic synonyms: Effort, Elbow Grease, Exertion, Sweat, Travail
Derivative terms: Strenuous

20. Noun. The act of singing. "With a shout and a song they marched up to the gates"
Exact synonyms: Song
Generic synonyms: Vocal Music
Specialized synonyms: Carol, Cradlesong, Lullaby
Derivative terms: Sing, Sing, Songster

Definition of Strain

1. n. Race; stock; generation; descent; family.


3. v. i. To make violent efforts.

4. n. The act of straining, or the state of being strained.

5. n. A cultural subvariety that is only slightly differentiated.

Definition of Strain

1. Noun. (obsolete) Treasure. ¹

2. Noun. (obsolete) The blood-vessel in the yolk of an egg. ¹

3. Noun. (archaic) Race; lineage, pedigree. ¹

4. Noun. Hereditary character, quality, or disposition. ¹

5. Noun. A tendency or disposition ¹


7. Noun. (biology) A particular breed or race of animal, microbe etc. ¹

8. Noun. (music) A portion of music divided off by a double bar; a complete musical period or sentence; a movement, or any rounded subdivision of a movement. ¹

9. Noun. (rare) A kind or sort (of person etc.). ¹

10. Verb. (obsolete) To hold tightly, to clasp. ¹

11. Verb. To apply a force or forces to by stretching out. ¹

12. Verb. To exert or struggle (to do something), especially to stretch (one's senses, faculties etc.) beyond what is normal or comfortable. ¹

13. Verb. To tighten (the strings of a musical instrument); to uplift (one’s voice). ¹

14. Verb. To separate solid from liquid by passing through a strainer or colander ¹

15. Noun. The act of straining, or the state of being strained. ¹

16. Noun. A violent effort; an excessive and hurtful exertion or tension, as of the muscles. ¹

17. Noun. An injury resulting from violent effort; a sprain. ¹

18. Noun. (engineering) The amount by which a material deforms under stress or force, given as a ratio of the deformation to the initial dimension of the material and typically symbolised by ? is termed the engineering strain. The true strain is defined as the natural logarithm of the ratio of the final dimension to the initial dimension. ¹

19. Noun. (obsolete) The track of a deer. ¹

¹ Source:

Definition of Strain

1. to exert to the utmost [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Strain Pictures


Lexicographical Neighbors of Strain

strain (current term)
strain burst
strain energy
strain gage
strain gauge
strain gauges
strained silicon
strainer vine

Literary usage of Strain


"(1) For normal stress p and linear strain e in the direction of p P = Ee; The longitudinal strain e is always accompanied by a strain <? ..."

"Besides enabling us to express the extension in any direction and the changes of relative direction of any filaments of the body, the components of strain ..."

"Since then the strain or race known as Shirley poppies has surpassed all others. This strain was developed by the Rev. W. Wilks, secretary of the Royal ..."

4. Experimental Engineering and Manual for Testing: For Engineers and for by Rolla Clinton Carpenter (1902)
"strain-diagrams are diagrams which show the relations which the increments of ... If the strain-diagrams of several specimens be drawn on the same sheet, ..."

5. Proceedings by Philadelphia County Medical Society (1890)
"THE RECOGNITION OF EYE-strain BY THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER. ... [Read June 25, 1890 ] THE attempt to give relief from the symptoms of eye-strain by a careful ..."

"Crossover events can be detected by strain distribution patterns (SDPs) of ... RI strain sets are like a linkage cross-frozen in time, and genotyping is ..."

7. The Modern Horse Doctor: Containing Practical Observations on the Causes by George H. Dadd (1856)
"strain OP THE FETLOCK. strain of the fetlock is frequently occasioned by bending the joint in a lateral direction, and injuring the capsular ligaments of ..."

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