strain
Definitions
To injure a muscle, tendon, or joint by stretching or overusing it.
拉伤（肌肉、肌腱或关节）。
To make a great or excessive effort; to push something to its limits.
竭力，使劲；使……承受极大压力。
To pour liquid through a sieve to separate out solids.
过滤，滤掉。
A force or pressure that stretches or stresses something; mental or physical tension.
拉力，张力；（身心的）压力，紧张。
A particular variety or breed of an organism, such as a virus or bacterium.
（病毒、细菌等的）品系，菌株。
Root Breakdown
Native Englishstrain is stringere ("draw tight") in its barest form. Pull a muscle past what it can take and you *strain* it; pull on resources or relations past their limit and you put a *strain* on them. The "breed/strain" sense is unrelated in origin (from Old English strēon, "lineage") but has merged into the same spelling.
Root strain still carries 57 more wordsWhy It Means This
The two everyday meanings — physical injury and mental pressure — are the same image seen twice: something pulled tighter than it can bear. A strained muscle and a strained relationship are both stretched to the breaking point. The "strain of bacteria" sense is a separate word that happens to look identical.
Common Collocations
- 1.muscle strain肌肉拉伤
- 2.strain a muscle拉伤肌肉
- 3.eye strain眼睛疲劳
- 4.put a strain on给……造成压力
Example Sentences
- 1.
He strained his back lifting the heavy boxes.
- 2.
The long hours put a real strain on the team.
- 3.
Strain the pasta and return it to the pot.
- 4.
Scientists identified a new strain of the virus.
Easily Confused
strain vs sprain — Easy to mix up in English. You strain a muscle or tendon (overstretch it); you sprain a ligament at a joint (twist or wrench it). "Sprained ankle" but "strained back."