strainstrainstrainsstrainedstraining2verb (strains, straining, strained)1to try very hard: Her voice was so quiet that I had to strain to hear her.2to hurt a part of your body by making it work too hard: Don't read in the dark. You'll strain your eyes.3to pour a liquid through something with small holes in it, to remove any solid bitsstrainstrainstrains1noun1physical force: The rope broke under the strain.2worry; problems caused by worry: His illness put a great strain on their marriage.3an injury to part of your body, caused by making it work too hard: back strain