Strain

strān, v.t. to stretch tight: to draw with force: to exert to the utmost: to injure by overtasking: to make tight: to constrain, make uneasy or unnatural: to pre to one's self, to embrace: to pa through a filter.— v.i. to make violent efforts: to filter.— n. the act of straining: a violent effort: an injury inflicted by straining, esp. a wrenching of the muscles: a note, sound, or song, stretch of imagination, .: any change of form or bulk of a portion of matter either solid or fluid, the system of forces which sustains the strain being called the stre : mood, disposition.— ns. Strain′er , one who, or that which, strains: an instrument for filtration: a sieve, colander, .; Strain′ing , a piece of leather for stretching as a base for the seat of a saddle.— Strain a point , to make a special effort: to exceed one's duty; Strain at , in Matt. xxiii. 24, a misprint for Strain out . [O. Fr. straindre —L. stringĕre , to stretch tight. Cf. String and Strong .]