Overview of verb strain

The verb strain has 9 senses

• strive, reach, strain -- (to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear")


• try, strain, stress -- (test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!")


• strain, extend -- (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")


• sift, sieve, strain -- (separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour")


• tense, strain, tense up -- (cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up")


• strain, tense -- (become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached")


• filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out -- (remove by passing through a filter; "filter out the impurities")


• puree, strain -- (rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby")


• deform, distort, strain -- (alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy")

Overview of adj strained

The adj strained has 4 senses

• labored, laboured, strained -- (lacking natural ease; "a labored style of debating")


• strained -- (showing signs of mental and emotional tension; "her voice was strained as she asked the question")


• constrained, forced, strained -- (lacking spontaneity; not natural; "a constrained smile"; "forced heartiness"; "a strained smile")


• agonistic, strained -- (struggling for effect; "agonistic poses")