strain

/streɪn/
noun
  1. A feeling of stress, worry, or pressure caused by difficult circumstances.
    • He felt the strain of caring for his sick mother every day.
    • The constant deadlines at work put a lot of strain on her.
    • Financial strain can affect a person's health and happiness.
  2. A physical injury caused by overusing a muscle or tendon.
    • Athletes often suffer from hamstring strains during intense training.
    • The doctor said his back strain would heal with rest and ice.
    • She got a muscle strain from lifting heavy boxes without proper form.
  3. A particular type or breed of something, especially a plant, animal, or microorganism.
    • This new strain of wheat is resistant to drought.
    • Scientists are studying a rare strain of bacteria found in the soil.
    • The farmer grows a special strain of tomatoes that are very sweet.
  4. A tune or melody, especially a short piece of music.
    • A soft strain of piano music drifted through the open window.
    • He hummed a familiar strain from his favorite song.
    • The band played a lively strain that made everyone want to dance.
Antonyms
verb
  1. To stretch or pull something tightly, or to put too much pressure on something.
    • Be careful not to strain the rope too much or it will snap.
    • The heavy load strained the old wooden bridge to its limit.
    • He strained his eyes trying to read the tiny print.
  2. To injure a muscle or tendon by overusing it.
    • He strained his shoulder during the baseball game.
    • She strained her ankle while running on the uneven trail.
    • If you lift that weight, you might strain your back.
  3. To make a great effort to do something, often with difficulty.
    • He strained to lift the heavy suitcase onto the shelf.
    • She strained to hear the conversation over the loud music.
    • The dog strained at the leash, trying to chase the squirrel.
  4. To separate solid parts from a liquid by passing it through a filter or sieve.
    • Strain the pasta before adding the sauce.
    • She strained the tea leaves from the hot water.
    • You should strain the broth to remove any bones or herbs.
  5. To put a relationship or system under pressure, often causing problems.
    • Long working hours can strain a marriage.
    • The new policy strained relations between the two countries.
    • The argument strained their friendship for months.
Antonyms