strain

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence“she was humming an air from Beethoven”

(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups“a new strain of microorganisms”

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

(psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress“his responsibilities were a constant strain”

a special variety of domesticated animals within a species“he experimented on a particular breed of white rats”

difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension“she endured the stresses and strains of life”

the general meaning or substance of an utterance“although I disagreed with him, I could follow the tenor of his argument”

an intense or violent exertion

the act of singing“with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates”

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain

remove by passing through a filter“filter out the impurities”

to exert much effort or energy“straining our ears to hear”

test the limits of“You are trying my patience!”

separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements“sift the flour”

cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious“he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up”

alter the shape of (something) by stress“His body was deformed by leprosy”

use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity“He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro”

become stretched or tense or taut“the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed”

rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender“puree the vegetables for the baby”