Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To subject to excessive strain, especially to force beyond a natural or proper limit.
  • intransitive verb To put forth too much physical effort.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To strain or strive to excess; make exhausting or injurious efforts.
  • To stretch or strain too far; exert to an injurious degree.
  • noun Excessive strain; exhausting effort.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To stretch or strain too much.
  • intransitive verb To strain one's self to excess.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To subject to an excessive demand on strength, resources, or abilities

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun too much strain
  • verb strain excessively

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Monte Carlo - Sweden's French Open finalist Robin Soderling will miss next week's Monte Carlo Masters, delaying his start on clay to take care of what has been diagnosed as "overstrain" of his right knee. "

    The Earth Times Online Newspaper 2010

  • Monte Carlo - Sweden's French Open finalist Robin Soderling will miss next week's Monte Carlo Masters, delaying his start on clay to take care of what has been diagnosed as "overstrain" of his right knee. "

    The Earth Times Online Newspaper 2010

  • Monte Carlo - Sweden's French Open finalist Robin Soderling will miss next week's Monte Carlo Masters, delaying his start on clay to take care of what has been diagnosed as "overstrain" of his right knee. "

    The Earth Times Online Newspaper 2010

  • In the autumn of 1938, at her own request, Karin Boye took up full-time teaching at Viggbyholm, but the workload proved to be too much for her, and she suffered from overstrain and exhaustion.

    Karin Boye - a biographical profile - 8 David McDuff 2009

  • In the autumn of 1938, at her own request, Karin Boye took up full-time teaching at Viggbyholm, but the workload proved to be too much for her, and she suffered from overstrain and exhaustion.

    Archive 2009-11-01 David McDuff 2009

  • Now I am anxious to test thee, and seek not thou from rage to turn aside from the truth, nor will I on my part overstrain the case.

    Iphigenia at Aulis 2008

  • But for now, in order not to overstrain the customer, we see limited, well-targeted price discounts as more appropriate in Internet retailing than full dynamic pricing.

    What E-Tailers Can Learn Niels Agatz 2008

  • There are of course no "bagging" people at Ikea -- just posted reminders that it is better to purchase an Ikea shopping bag so as to not overstrain the environment (never mind about your back).

    Danielle Crittenden: Why I Hate Ikea 2008

  • Now I am anxious to test thee, and seek not thou from rage to turn aside from the truth, nor will I on my part overstrain the case.

    Iphigenia at Aulis 2008

  • And on the fifteenth day, when that we had gotten up and washt and eat and drank, the Maid did look unto my bandages; and did consider that I be healed very good, if but that I not to overstrain my body.

    The Night Land 2007

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