[streɪn], (Verb)

Definitions:
- force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make an unusually great effort
(e.g: I stopped and listened, straining my ears for any sound)

- pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a porous or perforated device or material in order to separate out any solid matter
(e.g: strain the custard into a bowl)


Phrases:
- at strain

Origin:
Middle English (as a verb): from Old French estreindre, from Latin stringere ‘draw tight’. Current senses of the noun arose in the mid 16th century

[streɪn], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging degree
(e.g: the usual type of chair puts an enormous strain on the spine)

- a severe or excessive demand on the strength, resources, or abilities of someone or something
(e.g: the accusations put a strain on relations between the two countries)

- the sound of a piece of music
(e.g: the distant strains of the brass band grew louder)


Phrases:
- at strain

Origin:
Middle English (as a verb): from Old French estreindre, from Latin stringere ‘draw tight’. Current senses of the noun arose in the mid 16th century

[streɪn], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a particular breed, stock, or variety of an animal or plant

- a particular tendency as part of a person's character
(e.g: there's a strain of Victorian rectitude in him)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English strīon ‘acquisition, gain’, of Germanic origin; related to Latin struere ‘to build up’