- [uncountable, countable] pressure on a system or relationship because great demands are being placed on it
- The transport service cannot cope with the strain of so many additional passengers.
- under strain Their marriage is under great strain at the moment.
- strain on something These repayments are putting a strain on our finances.
- There are strains in the relationship between the two countries.
Synonyms pressurepressurestress ▪ tension ▪ strainThese are all words for the feelings of worry caused by the problems in somebody’s life.pressure difficulties and feelings of worry that are caused by the need to achieve something or to behave in a particular way:- She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work.
- stress-related illnesses
- nervous tension
- 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
Extra Examples- After three years, their marriage was beginning to show signs of strain.
- Increasing demand is placing undue strain on services.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- enormous
- great
- …
- be under
- come under
- feel
- …
- show
- take its toll (on somebody)
- tell (on somebody)
- …
- under the strain
- strain on
- a bit of a strain
- signs of strain
- stresses and strains
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [countable, uncountable] mental pressure or worry felt by somebody because they have too much to do or manage; something that causes this pressure
- You will learn to cope with the stresses and strains of public life.
- I found it a strain having to concentrate for so long.
- Relax, and let us take the strain (= do things for you).
- under strain Television newsreaders come under enormous strain.
Extra Examples- After weeks of overtime, she was starting to feel the strain.
- After weeks of uncertainty, the strain was beginning to take its toll.
- 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.
- It's a real strain having to get up so early!
- The internet takes the strain out of shopping.
- The mental strain of sharing an office with Alison was starting to show.
- the stresses and strains of a long day
- I found it a strain looking after four children.
- [uncountable, countable] the pressure that is put on something when a physical force stretches, pushes, or pulls it
- under the strain The rope broke under the strain.
- strain on something 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).
Extra ExamplesTopics Physics and chemistryc1- There's too much strain on the corner of the table.
- a fishing line with a 15lb breaking strain
- The ice gave way under the strain.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- enormous
- great
- …
- be under
- come under
- feel
- …
- show
- take its toll (on somebody)
- tell (on somebody)
- …
- under the strain
- strain on
- a bit of a strain
- signs of strain
- stresses and strains
- …
- [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
Extra ExamplesTopics Health problemsc1- Sterling will play if he can shake off a slight thigh strain.
- You'll get eye strain if you don't put the light on.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- slight
- back
- …
- be suffering from
- have
- get
- …
- [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.
- H5N1 is a strain of avian influenza.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- new
- mutant
- virulent
- …
- discover
- identify
- analyse/analyze
- …
- strain of
- [countable, usually singular] a particular feature of the character of a person or group, or a quality in their manner synonym streak
- He had a definite strain of snobbery in him.
- [countable, usually plural] (formal) the sound of music being played or sung
- She could hear the strains of Mozart through the window.
- He heard the familiar strains of a tango coming from the club.
pressure
injury
type of plant/animal/disease
in somebody’s character
of music
Word Originnoun senses 1 to 3 and noun sense 6 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. noun senses 4 to 5 Old English strīon ‘acquisition, gain’, of Germanic origin; related to Latin struere ‘to build up’.
Idioms
See strain in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee strain in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishcreak under the strain
- if a system or service creaks under the strain, it cannot deal effectively with all the things it is expected to do or provide
Check pronunciation:
strain