3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Strain \Strain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Strained}; p. pr & vb n.
{Straining}.] [OF. estraindre estreindre F. ['e]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. ``To
strain his fetters with a stricter care.'' --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]:
Straining \Strain"ing\,
a. & n. from {Strain}.
{Straining piece} (Arch.), a short piece of timber in a
truss, used to maintain the ends of struts or rafters, and
keep them from slipping. See Illust. of {Queen-post}.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
straining
adj : taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance; "his
final, straining burst of speed"; "a strenuous task";
"your willingness after these six arduous days to
remain here"- F.D.Roosevelt [syn: {arduous}, {strenuous}]
n 1: an intense or violent exertion [syn: {strain}, {stress}]
2: the act of distorting something so it seems to mean
something it was not intended to mean [syn: {distortion},
{overrefinement}, {torture}, {twisting}]
more about straining
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Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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