(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If ~ is put on an organization or system, it has to do more than it is able to do.
The prison service is already under considerable ~...
The vast expansion in secondary education is putting an enormous ~ on the system.
= pressure
N-VAR: oft under N, N on n
2.
To ~ something means to make it do more than it is able to do.
The volume of scheduled flights is ~ing the air traffic control system...
= stretch
VERB: V n
3.
Strain is a state of worry and tension caused by a difficult situation.
She was tired and under great ~.
...the stresses and ~s of a busy and demanding career.
= stress
N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl
4.
If you say that a situation is a ~, you mean that it makes you worried and tense.
I sometimes find it a ~ to be responsible for the mortgage.
N-SING: a N
5.
Strain is a force that pushes, pulls, or stretches something in a way that may damage it.
Place your hands under your buttocks to take some of the ~ off your back...
N-UNCOUNT
6.
Strain is an injury to a muscle in your body, caused by using the muscle too much or twisting it.
Avoid muscle ~ by warming up with slow jogging.
N-VAR: usu n N
7.
If you ~ a muscle, you injure it by using it too much or twisting it.
He ~ed his back during a practice session.
VERB: V n
8.
If you ~ to do something, you make a great effort to do it when it is difficult to do.
I had to ~ to hear...
They ~ed their eyes, but saw nothing.
VERB: V to-inf, V n
9.
When you ~ food, you separate the liquid part of it from the solid parts.
Strain the stock and put it back into the pan.
VERB: V n
10.
You can use ~ to refer to a particular quality in someone’s character, remarks, or work.
There was a ~ of bitterness in his voice.
...this cynical ~ in the book.
N-SING: with supp
11.
A ~ of a germ, plant, or other organism is a particular type of it.
Every year new ~s of influenza develop.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
12.
see also eye ~ , repetitive ~ injury