Dictionary De - En
De - Es
De - Pt| English Dictionary: strained | by the DICT Development Group |
| 3 results for strained | |
| From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Strain \Strain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Strained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Straining}.] [OF. estraindre, estreindre, F. [82]treindre, L. stringere to draw or bind tight; probably akin to Gr. [?] a halter, [?] that which is squeezwd out, a drop, or perhaps to E. strike. Cf. {Strangle}, {Strike}, {Constrain}, {District}, {Strait}, a. {Stress}, {Strict}, {Stringent}.] 1. To draw with force; to extend with great effort; to stretch; as, to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship; to strain the cords of a musical instrument. [bd]To strain his fetters with a stricter care.[b8] --Dryden. 2. (Mech.) To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as forces on a beam to bend it. 3. To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously. He sweats, Strains his young nerves. --Shak. They strain their warbling throats To welcome in the spring. --Dryden. 4. To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in the matter of intent or meaning; as, to strain the law in order to convict an accused person. There can be no other meaning in this expression, however some may pretend to strain it. --Swift. 5. To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force; as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship. 6. To injure in the muscles or joints by causing to make too strong an effort; to harm by overexertion; to sprain; as, to strain a horse by overloading; to strain the wrist; to strain a muscle. Prudes decayed about may track, Strain their necks with looking back. --Swift. 7. To squeeze; to press closely. Evander with a close embrace Strained his departing friend. --Dryden. 8. To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain. He talks and plays with Fatima, but his mirth Is forced and strained. --Denham. The quality of mercy is not strained. --Shak. 9. To urge with importunity; to press; as, to strain a petition or invitation. Note, if your lady strain his entertainment. --Shak. 10. To press, or cause to pass, through a strainer, as through a screen, a cloth, or some porous substance; to purify, or separate from extraneous or solid matter, by filtration; to filter; as, to strain milk through cloth. {To strain a point}, to make a special effort; especially, to do a degree of violence to some principle or to one's own feelings. {To strain courtesy}, to go beyond what courtesy requires; to insist somewhat too much upon the precedence of others; -- often used ironically. --Shak. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Strained \Strained\, a. 1. Subjected to great or excessive tension; wrenched; weakened; as, strained relations between old friends. 2. Done or produced with straining or excessive effort; as, his wit was strained. | |
