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strain

strain

124 4.9
A type of animal, plant, or small living thing with particular traits
  • noun
  • /streɪn/
  • Specialized
: cepa
  • So perhaps you have a strain of wheat that simply makes bigger wheat.
  • a virus strain
  • an influenza strain
  • a vaccine strain

The risk of a new epidemic strain of influenza goes way down.

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Examples

  • Initially caused by serogroup A, immunization against this strain became a requirement for entry to Saudi Arabia.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Scientists are studying a strain of virus that has shown increased resistance to treatment.

  • At the time of our study, however, the M strain had long expanded beyond the hospital environment.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Doctors warn that this particular strain is extremely dangerous in children under 5 and especially to the elderly.

  • Our results suggest that a single strain may have caused most of the DENV cases in Tokyo.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The potential benefit will therefore depend on the strain or strains used and the dispensing format.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Many cases in this outbreak were caused by the M strain, an apparently autochthonous outbreak genotype.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Rubin used cross-pollination to develop a strain of marijuana that is not only remarkably potent... but completely undetectable by any drug tests.

  • Researchers discovered a new strain of bacteria that can break down plastic waste.

  • The agricultural department released a strain of rice that is more resistant to drought.

Synonyms

variation
vsstrain
119 3.3

A different form of something, like a design or recipe

names a consistent subtype with specific characteristics rather than any change
breed
vsstrain
110 2.7

A type of animal kept by people with shared physical traits

is any subtype within species, not limited to domesticated origins
form
vsstrain
  • Specialized
95 6.7

A group within a species with small physical or genetic differences

is a distinct subtype often defined by specific consistent characteristics
variant
vsstrain
54 4.9

A different form of something, like a virus or recipe

is a recognized subtype within species with defined recurring traits
variety
vsstrain
  • Specialized
37 7.2

A group within a species with small traits passed down from parents

is a general named subtype within species often with specific traits
cultivar
vsstrain
  • Specialized
7 8.7

A plant variety that people breed and grow for certain features, like roses or apples

is the broader natural subtype often not created by cultivation
var.
vsstrain
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A group within a species that has small differences like leaf shape

is the full named subtype within species rather than an abbreviation
biotype
vsstrain
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A group of living things that have the same genes

focuses on observable subtype differences rather than exact genetic identity

Idioms

1 9.9

To focus too much on small details and ignore bigger problems

1 7.2

Try as hard as possible to do something

1 7.1

To want to start doing something very eagerly while being held back

Compounds

virulent strain
  • Specialized
2 6.5

A very strong germ that spreads easily and makes people very sick

2 3.2

Eyes that feel tired or sore after looking at screens for too long

A feeling of worry and tiredness after thinking for a long time

A pain in the back muscles that comes after lifting or sudden movement

A feeling of being very nervous and tired after a long time of stress

strain gauge
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A small object that measures how much a surface stretches or bends

strain gage
  • Specialized
6.1

A tool that measures how much a material changes shape when pushed or pulled

How Different

mutation
  • Specialized
138 5.6
variant
5 5.3
variation
119 3.3
variety
  • Specialized
37 7.2
strain
  • Specialized
124 4.9
form
382 1.3

Surface Forms

strain singular
strains plural

Etymology

Strain comes from an old word meaning 'to pull' or 'to stretch', the same root as string. So a strain of a plant or microbe is like a 'line' or 'thread' of the species with its own traits.