Strain Definition
strain
noun
- (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
- difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension; "she endured the stresses and strains of life"; "he presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger"- R.J.Samuelson
- a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven"
- (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress; "his responsibilities were a constant strain"; "the mental strain of staying alert hour after hour was too much for him"
- a special variety of domesticated animals within a species; "he experimented on a particular breed of white rats"; "he created a new strain of sheep"
- (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of microorganisms"
- injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain
- the general meaning or substance of an utterance; "although I disagreed with him I could follow the tenor of his argument"
- an effortful attempt to attain a goal
- an intense or violent exertion
- the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates"
verb
- to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear"
- test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!"
- use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity; "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much"
- separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour"
- cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
- become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
- remove by passing through a filter; "filter out the impurities"
- rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby"
- alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy"
"Strain" in song lyrics
See how strain is used in real songs:
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"So much pain we live through the strain"
Aceyalone f/ Riddlore, Self-Jupiter — So Much Pain -
"The effort, the struggle, the strain"
Alltruisms — Clusterbombs Laos -
"It was all fun and games, no pain and no strain,"
The Ambassador — It Was Love
Words that rhyme with strain
Usage tips for "strain"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "strain" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for strain to find words that pair well.