strain

verb [I or T] (PRESSURE)

/streɪn/

Definition

1. Definition

2. Practise

B2 to become stretched or to experience pressure, or to make something do or experience this: I've put on such a lot of weight recently - this dress is straining at the seams. I strained a muscle in my back playing squash. Don't watch TV in the dark - you'll strain your eyes! [+ to infinitive] figurative I really had to strain (= try very hard) to reach those top notes.figurative I was straining (my ears) (= listening hard) to hear what they were saying. → Compare restrainTight and tightening

(Definition of strain verb (PRESSURE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)