strain

souche, variété

Groupe d’animaux ou de microorganismes ayant certaines caractéristiques communes.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : strain of something (The laboratory identified a new strain of bacteria.)

Synonymes : type, variety

Expressions courantes : strain of something, virus strain, bacterial strain, new strain

effort, surmenage

Effort physique intense pouvant provoquer des douleurs ou des blessures.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : strain of doing something (The strain of carrying the boxes left him exhausted.)

Synonymes : exertion, effort

Expressions courantes : physical strain, strain of lifting, avoid strain, muscular strain

trait, tendance

Qualité ou tendance héritée de la famille ou faisant partie du caractère d’une personne.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : strain of something (There is a strain of stubbornness in his family.)

Synonymes : streak, trait, tendency

Expressions courantes : strain of something, stubborn strain, artistic strain

mélodie, airs

Un air ou un passage musical, notamment entendu de loin.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : strains of something (We heard the strains of a violin through the window.)

Synonymes : melody, tune

Expressions courantes : strains of music, gentle strain, familiar strain

lignée, race

Famille ou groupe de personnes descendant des mêmes ancêtres.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : lineage, stock, family line

Expressions courantes : noble strain, ancient strain, strain of something

s’efforcer

Faire beaucoup d’efforts pour réussir quelque chose de difficile.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : strain to do something (She strained to hear the announcement.)

Synonymes : struggle, exert yourself

Expressions courantes : strain to hear, strain to see, strain your eyes, strain to listen

filtrer, passer

Faire passer un mélange à travers de petits trous pour en séparer les éléments.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : strain something through something (Strain the juice through a fine sieve.); strain something out of something (Strain the seeds out of the juice.)

Synonymes : filter

Expressions courantes : strain the soup, strain through something, strain out something, strain the pasta

tendre

Tirer fortement sur quelque chose pour le tendre ou l’étirer.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : stretch, pull taut

Expressions courantes : strain a rope, strain a cable, strain the supports