strain
A particular variety of a microbe, virus, or other organism, usually a taxonomically infraspecific one.
Noun 4 meanings
A particular variety of a microbe, virus, or other organism, usually a taxonomically infraspecific one.
“They say this year's flu virus is a particularly virulent strain.”
Hereditary character, quality, tendency, or disposition.
“There is a strain of madness in her family.”
Any sustained note or movement; a song; a distinct portion of an ode or other poem; also, the pervading note, or burden, of a song, poem, etc.
Language that is eloquent, poetic, or otherwise heightened.
Verb 4 meanings
To apply a force or forces to by stretching out.
“to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship”
To damage by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force.
“The gale strained the timbers of the ship.”
To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as when bending a beam.
To exert or struggle (to do something), especially to stretch (one's senses, faculties etc.) beyond what is normal or comfortable.
“Sitting in back, I strained to hear the speaker.”
Etymology
From Middle English streen, strene, streon, istreon (“race, stock, generation”), from Old English strēon, ġestrēon (“gain, wealth”), from Proto-West Germanic *streun, from Proto-Germanic *streuną (“heap, treasure, profit, gain”), from Proto-Indo-European *strew- (“to spread, strew”) (cognate with Old Saxon gistriuni, Old High German gistriuni (“gain, property, wealth, business”), Latin strues (“heap”)).
Similar and opposite words
STRAIN at a glance
STRAIN has 6 letters and scores 6 points in Scrabble (S 1 + T 1 + R 1 + A 1 + I 1 + N 1) and 7 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,537 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with strain
All rhymesOne letter away
- STRAIT6
- SPRAIN8
- STRAWN9
- STRAIK10
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