Strain Streɪn I Found Noun Marriage Relax Cope

• their marriage is under great strain at the moment.
• these repayments are putting a strain on our finances.
• relax, and let us take the strain (= do things for you).
• the transport service cannot cope with the strain of so many additional passengers.

strain

1. pressure on somebody/something because they have too much to do or manage, or something very difficult to deal with; the problems, worry or anxiety that this produces
• Their marriage is under great strain at the moment.
• These repayments are putting a strain on our finances.
• Relax, and let us take the strain (= do things for you).
• The transport service cannot cope with the strain of so many additional passengers.
• You will learn to cope with the stresses and strains of public life.
• I found it a strain having to concentrate for so long.
• There are strains in the relationship between the two countries.
• 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.
2. the pressure that is put on something when a physical force stretches, pushes, or pulls it
• The rope broke under the strain.
• 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).
3. 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
4. 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.
5. a particular tendency in the character of a person or group, or a quality in their manner
• synonym streak
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/streak_1
• He had a definite strain of snobbery in him.
6. the sound of music being played or sung
• See related entries: Describing music
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/describing_music/strain_1
• She could hear the strains of Mozart through the window.

Extra Examples

• After three years, their marriage was beginning to show signs of strain.
• After weeks of overtime, she was starting to feel the strain.
• After weeks of uncertainty, the strain was beginning to take its toll.
• Gerrard will play if he can shake off a slight thigh strain.
• H5N1 is a strain of avian influenza.
• 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.
• Increasing demand is placing undue strain on services.
• It’s a real strain having to get up so early!
• Losing the business put a strain on their relationship.
• Television newsreaders come under enormous strain.
• The Internet takes the strain out of shopping.
• The ice gave way under the strain.
• The mental strain of sharing an office with Alison was starting to show.
• The new scheme is designed to take the strain out of shopping.
• There’s too much strain on the corner of the table.
• You’ll get eye strain if you don’t put the light on.
• a fishing line with a 15lb breaking strain
• the stresses and strains of a long day
• He heard the familiar strains of a tango coming from the club.
• I found it a strain looking after four children.
• Relax, and let us take the strain.
• The cable has a 140kg breaking strain.
• The rope broke under the strain.
• a calf/groin/leg strain

Word Origin

• noun 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’.