strain

strain¹
verb

[with obj.]force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make a strenuous or unusually great effort
竭尽全力，使（身体部位）充分发挥功能
I stopped and listened, straining my ears for any sound.
我停下来听，竖起耳朵倾听任何的声响。
■injure (a limb, muscle, or organ) by overexerting it or twisting it awkwardly
（因过劳而）扭伤，损伤（四肢，肌肉，器官）
on cold days you are more likely to strain a muscle.
在寒冷的日子更容易拉伤肌肉。
glare from the screen can strain your eyes.
屏幕上发出的耀眼的光会伤害你的眼睛。
■[no obj.]make a strenuous and continuous effort
尽力，努力，使劲
his voice was so quiet that I had to strain to hear it.
他的声音那么轻，我得使劲听才听得见。
■make severe or excessive demands on
过多要求
he strained her tolerance to the limit.
他使她忍无可忍。
■[no obj.]pull or push forcibly at something
用力拉，紧拉；用力推，紧推
the bear strained at the chain around its neck.
那头熊使劲地拉扯套在它脖子上的链条。
his stomach was swollen, straining against the thin shirt.
他的肚子隆了起来，把薄衬衫撑得紧紧的。
■stretch (something) tightly
拉紧；张紧；绷紧
the barbed wire fence was strained to posts six feet high.
倒刺铁丝网绷得紧紧地系在六英尺高的柱子上。
■(archaic)embrace (someone) tightly
(古)抱紧
she strained the infant to her bosom again.
她又把那婴儿紧紧地搂在怀里。
[with obj.]pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a porous or perforated device or material in order to separate out any solid matter
将（液体物质）过滤（以除去固体物质）
strain the custard into a bowl.
把蛋奶沙司滤到碗里。
■cause liquid to drain off (food which has been boiled, soaked, or canned) by using such a device
（用过滤装置）滤出（煮、浸泡或罐装食物）的液体
■drain off (liquid) in this way
滤掉（液体）
strain off the surplus fat.
把多余的脂肪滤掉。

noun

a force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging degree
（把某物拉到极端或损害程度的）拉力，张力
the usual type of chair puts an enormous strain on the spine.
普通的椅子使脊柱要承受巨大的作用力。
[mass noun]aluminium may bend under strain.
铝在张力的作用下会弯曲。
■(Physics)the magnitude of a deformation, equal to the change in the dimension of a deformed object divided by its original dimension
(物理)应变，胁变
■an injury to a part of the body caused by overexertion or twisting a muscle awkwardly
损伤，扭伤
he has a slight groin strain.
他腹股沟轻微损伤。
a severe or excessive demand on the strength, resources, or abilities of someone or something
（对力量、资源或能力的）过分要求；过高要求
the accusations put a strain on relations between the two countries.
这些指责使两个国家的关系紧张起来。
[mass noun]she's obviously under considerable strain.
很明显，她承受的压力非常大。
■[mass noun]a state of tension or exhaustion resulting from this
极度紧张；过度劳累
the telltale signs of nervous strain.
神经过度紧张的明显迹象。
(一般作 strains)the sound of piece of music as it is played or performed
旋律，曲调
from within the flat could be heard the strains of country and western music.
可以听到从公寓里面传来的乡村和西部音乐的旋律。

常用词组
at (full) strain

(archaic)using the utmost effort
(古)全力以赴，竭尽全力

strain every nerve

见 nerve

strain at the leash

见 leash

派生
strainable
adjective
语源

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

strain²
noun

a breed, stock, or variety of an animal or plant developed by breeding
（动、植物的）系，品系；品种，种类
■a natural or cultured variety of a micro-organism with a distinct form, biochemistry, or virulence
（微生物的）（菌）株，（菌）系；品种；类型
a particular tendency as part of a person's character
品质，气质；生性，生性特点
there was a powerful strain of insanity on her mother's side of the family.
在她母亲的家族方面有很强的精神病遗传特性。
■a variety of a particular abstract thing
（抽象东西的）种，类，类型
a strain of feminist thought.
一种女权主义的思想。

语源

Old English strīon 'acquisition, gain', of Germanic origin; related to Latin struere 'to build up'

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