strain

A group of animals or tiny living things with particular shared features.

• This strain of wheat grows quickly.
• Doctors found a drug-resistant strain of the bacteria.
• Several strains of the virus spread during winter.

How to use it: strain of something (The laboratory identified a new strain of bacteria.)

Similar words: type, variety

Common phrases: strain of something, virus strain, bacterial strain, new strain

Great physical effort that can cause pain or damage.

• The strain made his arms shake.
• Heavy lifting puts strain on your back.
• She rested after the strain of climbing the steep hill.

How to use it: strain of doing something (The strain of carrying the boxes left him exhausted.)

Similar words: exertion, effort

Common phrases: physical strain, strain of lifting, avoid strain, muscular strain

A quality or tendency passed through a family, or present as part of someone’s character.

• An artistic strain runs through her family.
• He showed a strain of cruelty.
• There was a playful strain in her character.

How to use it: strain of something (There is a strain of stubbornness in his family.)

Similar words: streak, trait, tendency

Common phrases: strain of something, stubborn strain, artistic strain

A tune or part of a piece of music, especially when heard from a distance.

• A gentle strain drifted through the room.
• We heard the familiar strains of her favourite song.
• The opening strains of the music filled the hall.

How to use it: strains of something (We heard the strains of a violin through the window.)

Similar words: melody, tune

Common phrases: strains of music, gentle strain, familiar strain

A family line or group connected by shared ancestors.

• He came from a noble strain.
• The family claimed an ancient royal strain.
• Breeders valued the horses from that strain.

Similar words: lineage, stock, family line

Common phrases: noble strain, ancient strain, strain of something

To make a great effort to do something difficult.

• I strained to see the sign.
• He strains to hear quiet voices.
• We were straining to reach the top shelf.

How to use it: strain to do something (She strained to hear the announcement.)

Similar words: struggle, exert yourself

Common phrases: strain to hear, strain to see, strain your eyes, strain to listen

To pass a mixture through small holes to separate its parts.

• Strain the soup before serving.
• She strained the juice through a cloth.
• Have you strained out the seeds?

How to use it: strain something through something (Strain the juice through a fine sieve.); strain something out of something (Strain the seeds out of the juice.)

Similar words: filter

Common phrases: strain the soup, strain through something, strain out something, strain the pasta

To pull something hard so that it becomes tight or stretched.

• The load strained the rope.
• Heavy winds strain the cables holding the mast.
• They strained the wire until it was tight.

Similar words: stretch, pull taut

Common phrases: strain a rope, strain a cable, strain the supports