Definitions for strained

Overview of verb strain

The verb strain has 9 senses? (first 5 from tagged texts)

1. (6) strive, reach, strain

(to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear")

2. (3) try, strain, stress

(test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!")

3. (3) strain, extend

(use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity; "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much")

4. (1) sift, sieve, strain

(separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour")

5. (1) tense, strain, tense up

(cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up")

6. strain, tense

(become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached")

7. filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out

(remove by passing through a filter; "filter out the impurities")

8. puree, strain

(rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby")

9. deform, distort, strain

(alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy")

Overview of adj strained

The adj strained has 4 senses? (first 2 from tagged texts)

1. (3) labored, laboured, strained

(lacking natural ease; "a labored style of debating")

2. (2) strained

(showing signs of mental and emotional tension; "her voice was strained as she asked the question")

3. constrained, forced, strained

(lacking spontaneity; not natural; "a constrained smile"; "forced heartiness"; "a strained smile")

4. agonistic, strained

(struggling for effect; "agonistic poses")