n.
strained relations
strain
1) to cause, create ~
2) to heighten, increase ~
3) to alleviate, ease, lessen, relieve ~ (to alleviate/ease ~ between the superpowers)
4) acute; mounting ~
5) arterial; international; nervous; premenstrual; racial ~
6) ~ builds up, mounts
7) ~ eases, subsides
8) ~ between
tautness
9) fan-belt ~
voltage
10) high; low ~