To squeeze; to press closely.

To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent
effort; to force; to constrain.

To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously.

To injure in the muscles or joints by causing to make too
strong an effort; to harm by overexertion; to sprain; as, to strain a
horse by overloading; to strain the wrist; to strain a muscle.

To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in
the matter of intent or meaning; as, to strain the law in order to
convict an accused person.

To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or
volume, as forces on a beam to bend it.

Hereditary character, quality, or disposition.

Race; stock; generation; descent; family.

Rank; a sort.

To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force;
as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship.