Tra từ strain - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

strain [strain strains strained straining] noun, verb BrE [streɪn] NAmE [streɪn]
noun

WORRY/ANXIETY
1. uncountable, countable pressure on sb/sth because they have too much to do or manage, or sth very difficult to deal with; the problems, worry or anxiety that this produces
• Their marriage is under great strain at the moment.
• These repayments are putting a strain on our finances.
•Relax, and let us take the strain (= do things for you).
•The transport service cannot cope with the strain of so many additional passengers.
•You will learn to cope with the stresses and strains of public life.
•I found it a strain having to concentrate for so long.
•There are strains in the relationship between the two countries.

PHYSICAL PRESSURE
2. uncountable, countable the pressure that is put on sth when a physical force stretches, pushes, or pulls it
• The rope broke under the strain.
• You should try not to place too much strain on muscles and joints.
•The ground here cannot take the strain of a large building.
•The cable has a 140kg breaking strain (= it will break when it is stretched or pulled by a force greater than this).

INJURY
3. countable, uncountable an injury to a part of your body, such as a muscle, that is caused by using it too much or by twisting it
•a calf/groin/leg strain
•muscle strain

TYPE OF PLANT/ANIMAL/DISEASE
4. countable a particular type of plant or animal, or of a disease caused by bacteria, etc
•a new strain of mosquitoes resistant to the poison
•This is only one of the many strains of the disease.

IN SB'S CHARACTER
5. countable, usually singular a particular tendency in the character of a person or group, or a quality in their manner
Syn: ↑streak
•He had a definite strain of snobbery in him.

OF MUSIC
6. countable, usually plural (formal)the sound of music being played or sung
•She could hear the strains of Mozart through the window.

Word Origin:
v. and n. senses 1 to 3 n. sense 6 Middle English Old French estreindre Latin stringere ‘draw tight’ n. senses 4 to 5 Old English strīon ‘acquisition, gain’ Germanic Latin struere ‘to build up’

Thesaurus:
strain noun
1. U, C
•Their marriage is under great strain.
stress • • pressure • • tension • • demands • |informal, especially journalism heat •
be under strain/stress/pressure
cope with the strain/stress/pressure/tension/demands
relieve/release the strain/stress/pressure/tension
2. U, C
•The rope broke under the strain.
stress • • pressure • • weight • • load •
under the strain/stress/pressure/weight/load
put strain/stress/pressure/weight on sth
bear the strain/stress/weight/load of sth
Strain, stress or pressure? Pressure can be heavy, firm, gentle or light. Both strain and stress usually suggest that there is too much pressure.

Synonyms:
pressure
stress • tension • strain
These are all words for the feelings of anxiety caused by the problems in sb's life.
pressure • difficulties and feelings of anxiety that are caused by the need to achieve sth or to behave in a particular way: ▪ She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work.
stress • pressure or anxiety caused by the problems in sb's life: ▪ stress-related illnesses
pressure or stress?
It is common to say that sb is suffering from stress, while pressure may be the thing that causes stress.
tension • a feeling of anxiety and stress that makes it impossible to relax: ▪ nervous tension
strain • pressure on sb/sth because they have too much to do or manage; the problems, worry or anxiety that this produces: ▪ I found it a strain looking after four children.
to be under pressure/stress/strain
considerable pressure/stress/tension/strain
to cause stress/tension/strain
to cope with the pressure/stress/tension/strain
to relieve/release the pressure/stress/tension/strain
to be suffering from stress/tension

Example Bank:
•After three years, their marriage was beginning to show signs of strain.
•After weeks of overtime, she was starting to feel the strain.
•After weeks of uncertainty, the strain was beginning to take its toll.
•Gerrard will play if he can shake off a slight thigh strain.
•H5N1 is a strain of avian influenza.
•He broke down under the strain of having to work twelve hours a day.
•I found it a bit of a strain making conversation with her.
•Increasing demand is placing undue strain on services.
•It's a real strain having to get up so early!
•Losing the business put a strain on their relationship.
•Television newsreaders come under enormous strain.
•The Internet takes the strain out of shopping.
•The ice gave way under the strain.
•The mental strain of sharing an office with Alison was starting to show.
•The new scheme is designed to take the strain out of shopping.
•There's too much strain on the corner of the table.
•You'll get eye strain if you don't put the light on.
•a fishing line with a 15lb breaking strain
•the stresses and strains of a long day
•He heard the familiar strains of a tango coming from the club.
•I found it a strain looking after four children.
•Relax, and let us take the strain.
•The cable has a 140kg breaking strain.
•The rope broke under the strain.
•a calf/groin/leg strain
Idioms: ↑strain at the leash ▪ ↑strain every nerve

verb

INJURE
1. transitive ~ sth/yourself to injure yourself or part of your body by making it work too hard
•to strain a muscle
•You'll strain your back carrying those heavy suitcases.

MAKE EFFORT
2. transitive, intransitive to make an effort to do sth, using all your mental or physical strength
•~ sth to do sth I strained my ears (= listened very hard) to catch what they were saying.
•~ sth Necks were strained for a glimpse of the stranger.
•~ to do sth People were straining to see what was going on.
•~ (sth) (for sth) He burst to the surface, straining for air.
•Bend gently to the left without straining.

STRETCH TO LIMIT
3. transitive ~ sth to try to make sth do more than it is able to do
•The sudden influx of visitors is straining hotels in the town to the limit.
•His constant complaints were straining our patience.
•The dispute has strained relations between the two countries (= made them difficult).
•Her latest version of events strained their credulity still further.

PUSH/PULL HARD
4. intransitive + adv./prep. to push hard against sth; to pull hard on sth
•She strained against the ropes that held her.
•The dogs were straining at the leash, eager to get to the park.

SEPARATE SOLID FROM LIQUID
5. transitive to pour food, etc. through sth with very small holes in it, for example a ↑sieve, in order to separate the solid part from the liquid part
•~ sth Use a colander to strain the vegetables.
•~ sth off Strain off any excess liquid.
more at creak under the strain at ↑creak _v.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
v. and n. senses 1 to 3 n. sense 6 Middle English Old French estreindre Latin stringere ‘draw tight’ n. senses 4 to 5 Old English strīon ‘acquisition, gain’ Germanic Latin struere ‘to build up’

Collocations:
Injuries
Being injured
have a fall/an injury
receive/suffer/sustain a serious injury/a hairline fracture/(especially BrE) whiplash/a gunshot wound
hurt/injure your ankle/back/leg
damage the brain/an ankle ligament/your liver/the optic nerve/the skin
pull/strain/tear a hamstring/ligament/muscle/tendon
sprain/twist your ankle/wrist
break a bone/your collarbone/your leg/three ribs
fracture/crack your skull
break/chip/knock out/lose a tooth
burst/perforate your eardrum
dislocate your finger/hip/jaw/shoulder
bruise/cut/graze your arm/knee/shoulder
burn/scald yourself/your tongue
bang/bump/hit/ (informal) bash your elbow/head/knee (on/against sth)
Treating injuries
treat sb for burns/a head injury/a stab wound
examine/clean/dress/bandage/treat a bullet wound
repair a damaged/torn ligament/tendon/cartilage
amputate/cut off an arm/a finger/a foot/a leg/a limb
put on/ (formal) apply/take off (especially NAmE) a Band-Aid™/(BrE) a plaster/a bandage
need/require/put in/ (especially BrE) have (out)/ (NAmE) get (out) stitches
put on/rub on/ (formal) apply cream/ointment/lotion
have/receive/undergo (BrE) physiotherapy/(NAmE) physical therapy

Synonyms:
injure
wound • hurt • bruise • sprain • pull • strain
These words all mean to harm yourself or sb else physically, especially in an accident.
injure • to harm yourself or sb else physically, especially in an accident: ▪ He injured his knee playing hockey. ◇ ▪ Three people were injured in the crash.
wound • [often passive] (rather formal) to injure part of the body, especially by making a hole in the skin using a weapon: ▪ 50 people were seriously wounded in the attack.
Wound is often used to talk about people being hurt in war or in other attacks which affect a lot of people.
hurt • to cause physical pain to sb/yourself; to injure sb/yourself: ▪ Did you hurt yourself?
injure or hurt?
You can hurt or injure a part of the body in an accident. Hurt emphasizes the physical pain caused; injure emphasizes that the part of the body has been damaged in some way.
bruise • to make a blue, brown or purple mark (= a bruise) appear on the skin after sb has fallen or been hit; to develop a bruise
sprain • to injure part of your body, especially your ankle, wrist or knee, by suddenly bending it in an awkward way, causing pain and swelling
pull • to damage a muscle, etc, by using too much force
strain • to injure yourself or part of your body by making it work too hard: ▪ Don't strain your eyes by reading in poor light.
to injure/hurt/strain yourself
to injure/hurt/sprain/pull/strain a muscle
to injure/hurt/sprain your ankle/foot/knee/wrist/hand
to injure/hurt/strain your back/shoulder/eyes
to injure/hurt your spine/neck
to be badly/severely/slightly injured/wounded/hurt/bruised/sprained

Example Bank:
•I strained forward to get a better view.
•Our public health laboratories are strained to (the) breaking point.
•Several men were straining at a rope, trying to move the stalled vehicle.
•The company is already straining under the weight of a $12 billion debt.
•The dispute severely strained relations between the two countries.
•The dogs were straining against the sled.
•Their ears strained for any slight sound.
•We had to strain to hear what was being said.
•You could see he was straining hard to understand.
•Are you sure you can carry all that? Don't strain yourself.
•Don't strain your eyes by reading in poor light.
•Strain the juice from the cherries into a small saucepan.
•You'll strain your back carrying those heavy suitcases.