strain

Sense 1 noun

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

Sense 2 verb

to exert much effort or energy

straining our ears to hear

Sense 3 noun

difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension

she endured the stresses and strains of life

Sense 4 verb

test the limits of

You are trying my patience!

Sense 5 noun

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

she was humming an air from Beethoven

Sense 6 verb

use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity

He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro

Sense 7 noun

(psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress

his responsibilities were a constant strain

Sense 8 verb

separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements

sift the flour

Sense 9 noun

a special variety of domesticated animals within a species

he experimented on a particular breed of white rats

Sense 10 verb

cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up

Sense 11 noun

(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups

a new strain of microorganisms

Sense 12 verb

become stretched or tense or taut

the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;

Sense 13 noun

injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain

Sense 14 verb

remove by passing through a filter

filter out the impurities

Sense 15 noun

the general meaning or substance of an utterance

although I disagreed with him I could follow the tenor of his argument

Sense 16 verb

rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender

puree the vegetables for the baby

Sense 17 noun

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

Sense 18 verb

alter the shape of (something) by stress

His body was deformed by leprosy

Sense 19 noun

an intense or violent exertion

Sense 20 noun

the act of singing

with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates