(~s)
1.
You can refer to a narrow strip of sea which joins two large areas of sea as a ~ or the ~s.
An estimated 1600 vessels pass through the ~ annually.
...the Straits of Gibraltar.
N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES
2.
If someone is in dire or desperate ~s, they are in a very difficult situation, usually because they do not have much money.
The company’s closure has left many small businessmen in desperate financial ~s.
N-PLURAL: adj N