strain 1 W3 / streɪn / 名词
1 worry [可数和不可数名词] worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time → stress :
I couldn’t look after him any more; the strain was too much for me.
Did you find the job a strain ?
the stresses and strains of police life
strain for
The trial has been a terrible strain for both of us.
strain on
It’s quite a strain on me when he’s drinking heavily.
put/place a strain on somebody
The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.
under (a) strain
I know you’ve been under a lot of strain lately.
crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (= become unable to deal with a problem or work )
I could see that she was beginning to crack under the strain.
2 difficulty [可数和不可数名词] a difficulty or problem that is caused when a person, relationship, organization, or system has too much to do or too many problems to deal with
strain on
The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources.
put/place (a) strain on something
The flu epidemic has put a huge strain on the health service.
strain in
The attack has led to strains in the relationship between the two countries.
under (a) strain
His marriage was under strain.
break/crack/collapse etc under the strain
The party split under the strain.
3 force [不可数名词] a situation in which something is being pulled or pushed, or is holding weight, and so might break or become damaged
strain on
The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous.
put/place (a) strain on something
Some of these exercises put too much strain on the back muscles.
These four posts take the strain of the whole structure.
break/snap/collapse etc under the strain
The rope snapped under the strain.
4 injury [可数和不可数名词] an injury to a muscle or part of your body that is caused by using it too much :
Long hours working at a computer can cause eye strain.
The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain.
5 plant/animal [可数名词] a type of animal, plant, or disease
strain of
different strains of wheat
a new strain of the flu virus
6 quality [单数形式] a particular quality which people have, especially one that is passed from parents to children
strain of
There’s a strain of madness in his family.
7 way of saying something [单数形式] formal an amount of a feeling that you can see in the way someone speaks, writes, paints etc :
a strain of bitterness in Young’s later work
8 strains of something literary the sound of music being played :
We sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven.
COLLOCATIONS
形容词
great/considerable/severe strain The country’s health system is under great strain.
a terrible strain It’s been a terrible strain.
an intolerable strain (= too great to bear ) The cost of these wars put an intolerable strain on the economy.
undue strain (= too much strain ) How much can you invest without putting any undue strain on your finances?
emotional strain She has been suffering from considerable emotional strain.
financial strain This welfare program has eased the financial strain of raising children alone.
动词
put/place (a) strain on somebody/something Living with my parents put quite a strain on our marriage.
crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (= become unable to continue normally because of the strain ) They are worried that the court system might collapse under the strain.
ease the strain (= make it less ) You can do much to ease the strain of the situation for her.
短语
be under (a) strain Claudia could see that he was under considerable strain.
stresses and strains Holidays help people to cope with the stresses and strains of life.
THESAURUS
injury damage to part of your body caused by an accident or an attack : The passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
wound an injury, especially a deep cut in your skin made by a knife, bullet, or bomb : He died of a gunshot wound to the head.
cut a small injury made when a sharp object cuts your skin : Blood was running from a cut on his chin.
bruise a dark mark on your skin that you get when you fall or get hit : Jack often comes home from playing rugby covered in bruises.
graze/scrape a small injury that marks your skin or breaks the surface slightly : She fell off her bike and got a few grazes on her legs and knees.
gash a long deep cut : He had a deep gash across his forehead.
bump an area of skin that is swollen because you have hit it against something : How did you get that bump on your head?
sprain an injury to your ankle , wrist , knee etc, caused by suddenly twisting it : It’s a slight sprain – you should rest your ankle for a week.
strain an injury to a muscle caused by stretching it or using it too much : a muscle strain in his neck
fracture a crack or broken part in a bone : a hip fracture