/streɪn; stren/
v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr] stretch (sth) tightly by pulling 拉紧, 　紧（某物）
*strain a rope (to breaking-point/until it breaks) 把绳子拉紧（直到拉断）.
2 [I, It, Tn, Tnt] make the greatest possible effort; use all one's power, energy, etc (to do sth) 竭力; 用全力（做某事）
*wrestlers heaving and straining 尽力拼搏的摔交运动员
* strain (one's ears) to hear a conversation 聚精会神地听别人交谈
* straining to understand what she meant 努力弄懂她的意思
* strain one's voice to shout 扯着嗓门叫喊.
3 [Tn] injure or weaken (esp a part of the body) by stretching too much or trying too hard 因过度伸展或用力而损伤（尤指身体某部位）
*strain a muscle, one's heart 肌肉、心肌劳损
* strain one's eyes, eg by reading in a bad light 损害视力（如在微弱光线下阅读）
* strain one's voice, ie by speaking or singing too long or too loudly 喊哑嗓子（因说话或唱歌时间过长或声音过大）
* (ironic 反语) I would welcome some help but don't strain yourself! 我倒是盼着有人来帮忙--只是别累坏了你自己!
4 [Tn] (fml fig 文, 比喻) force (sth) beyond a limit of what is acceptable 竭力使（某事物）超过极限
*strain the credulity of one's listeners 使听的人难以相信
* strain one's authority, rights, power, etc, ie go beyond what is allowed or reasonable 滥用权威、权利、权力等
* Her prose strains language (ie the meaning of words) to the limits. 她的散文在语言运用上已超越了规范的极限.
5 [Tn] pass (food, etc) through a sieve, cloth, etc when separating solids from liquids 过滤（食物等）
*strain the soup, vegetables 过滤汤、蔬菜
* The tea hasn't been strained, ie It is full of tea-leaves. 这茶未经过滤（未滤去茶叶）.
6 (idm 习语) strain after ef`fects/an ef`fect try in a forced or unnatural way to make sth seem impressive 勉强地或造作地使某事物显得了不起. strain at the `leash (infml 口) be eager to have the freedom to do what one wants 渴望挣脱束缚
*teenagers straining at the leash to escape parental control 极力要摆脱父母控制的青少年. strain every `nerve (to do sth) try as hard as one can 尽力（做某事）.
7 (phr v) strain at sth make a strenuous effort by pulling at sth 用力拉、拖、拽、曳...某物
*rowers straining at the oars 用力划桨的划船手
* dogs straining at the lead 用力拖曳牵狗皮带的狗. strain sth off (from sth) remove (eg liquid) from solid matter by using a sieve, etc 滤去（液体等）
*strain off the water from the cabbage when it is cooked 烹调洋白菜时把水分滤掉.

/streɪn; stren/
n
1 [C, U]
(a) condition of being stretched or pulled tightly 拉紧; 　紧; 张紧
*The rope broke under the strain. 绳子拉断了.
(b) force causing this 拉力; 张力; 引力
*calculate the strains and stresses of a bridge 计算桥梁的应变和应力
* What is the breaking strain of this cable? ie How much strain would break it? 这缆索的致断拉力是多少?
2 (a) [C, U] severe demand on one's mental or physical strength, resources, abilities, etc 对智力、体力、财力、能力等的严格要求; 负担; 压力
*be under severe strain 处于极度紧张的状态
* beginning to feel the strain 开始感到有压力
* the strain of modern life 现代生活的压力
* Paying all the bills is a strain on my resources. 支付所有这些费用是我经济上的一大负担.
* He finds his new job a real strain. 他觉得新的工作的确很紧张.
* How do you stand (ie cope with) the strain? 你是怎样克服这种压力的?
(b) [U] state of anxiety, tension or exhaustion caused by this 因有压力而产生的焦虑、紧张或心力交瘁
*suffering from mental/nervous strain 精神[神经]极度紧张.
3 [C, U] injury to a part of the body caused by twisting a muscle, etc; sprain 劳损; 扭伤
*a painful strain 使人疼痛的扭伤
* a groin strain 阴部受伤.
4 [C usu pl 通常作复数] (fml 文) part of a tune or piece of music being performed （演出的）音乐片段, 乐曲
*hear the strains of the church organ 听到教堂风琴奏出的音乐
* the angelic strains of choirboys singing 唱诗班的男童唱出的优美动听的曲子.
5 [C usu sing 通常作单数] tone, style or manner of sth written or spoken 写作或说话的方式或风格; 笔调; 语调
*Her speech continued in the same dismal strain. 她以悲伤的语调接着往下说.

/streɪn; stren/
n
1 (usu sing 通常作单数) ~ (of sth) tendency in a person's character 个性特点; 性格倾向; 气质; 性情
*There's a strain of madness in the family. 那一家人都有点疯疯颠颠的.
2 breed or type (of animal, insect, plant, etc) （动物、昆虫、植物等的）系, 品系, 品种, 类型
*a new strain of wheat 小麦的新品种
* strains of mosquitoes that are resistant to insecticide 对杀虫剂有抗药性的蚊虫.