 |
Sense: 1-4
| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | STRAIN2 |
| Origin: | Old English streon 'gain' |
Related topics:
1 worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time [↪ stress]: 
I couldn't look after him any more; the strain was too much for me.
worry
[uncountable and countable]I couldn't look after him any more; the strain was too much for me. crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (=become unable to deal with a problem or work) I could see that she was beginning to crack under the strain.
I could see that she was beginning to crack under the strain.2 a difficulty or problem that is caused when a person, relationship, organization, or system has too much to do or too many problems to deal with
difficulty
[uncountable and countable] strain on The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources.
The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources. under (a) strain His marriage was under strain.
His marriage was under strain.3 a situation in which something is being pulled or pushed, or is holding weight, and so might break or become damaged
force
[uncountable]HP strain on The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous.
The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous. put/place (a) strain on something Some of these exercises put too much strain on the back muscles.
Some of these exercises put too much strain on the back muscles.4 an injury to a muscle or part of your body that is caused by using it too much : Long hours working at a computer can cause eye strain. The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain.
injury
[uncountable and countable]MILong hours working at a computer can cause eye strain.The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain.5 a type of animal, plant, or disease
plant/animal
[countable]HB6 a particular quality which people have, especially one that is passed from parents to children
quality
[singular] strain of There's a strain of madness in his family.
There's a strain of madness in his family.7 an amount of a feeling that you can see in the way someone speaks, writes, paints etc : a strain of bitterness in Young's later work
way of saying something
[singular] formala strain of bitterness in Young's later work8 the sound of music being played : We sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven.
strains of something
literaryWe sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven.