Words / C1

STRAYN/streɪn/

A strain is pressure that tests strength or capacity: a strain on services, under strain; also a pulled muscle, or a variety of a virus. Pressure and stress are everyday; burden is a cousin. The verb to strain is to stretch or to make a great effort. Do not put the gap in a slogan.

Meaning

Pressure that tests strength or capacity; also an injury from overuse.

Examples

• “The strain on night invigilation showed in the incident log, not in the slogan.”
• “Pressure is everyday. Stress can be psychological. A burden is what you carry. A viral strain is biology. Resilience copy is branding. Logs show load. Staff the shift; then write the poster if you must.”

Good to know

Pressure / stress on a system. Everyday: pressure. Also: muscle injury; virus variant. A slogan is not a load figure.

Near in meaning

pressure

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