strain

cepa, variedad

Grupo de animales o microorganismos que comparten ciertas características.

En inglés sencillo: A group of animals or tiny living things with particular shared features.

• This strain of wheat grows quickly.
• Doctors found a drug-resistant strain of the bacteria.
• Several strains of the virus spread during winter.

Cómo se usa: strain of something (The laboratory identified a new strain of bacteria.)

Sinónimos: type, variety

Expresiones frecuentes: strain of something, virus strain, bacterial strain, new strain

esfuerzo, sobreesfuerzo

Esfuerzo físico intenso que puede causar dolor o lesiones.

En inglés sencillo: Great physical effort that can cause pain or damage.

• The strain made his arms shake.
• Heavy lifting puts strain on your back.
• She rested after the strain of climbing the steep hill.

Cómo se usa: strain of doing something (The strain of carrying the boxes left him exhausted.)

Sinónimos: exertion, effort

Expresiones frecuentes: physical strain, strain of lifting, avoid strain, muscular strain

vena, rasgo

Cualidad o tendencia heredada de la familia o presente en el carácter de alguien.

En inglés sencillo: A quality or tendency passed through a family, or present as part of someone’s character.

• An artistic strain runs through her family.
• He showed a strain of cruelty.
• There was a playful strain in her character.

Cómo se usa: strain of something (There is a strain of stubbornness in his family.)

Sinónimos: streak, trait, tendency

Expresiones frecuentes: strain of something, stubborn strain, artistic strain

melodía, sones

Una melodía o un fragmento musical, especialmente cuando se oye desde lejos.

En inglés sencillo: A tune or part of a piece of music, especially when heard from a distance.

• A gentle strain drifted through the room.
• We heard the familiar strains of her favourite song.
• The opening strains of the music filled the hall.

Cómo se usa: strains of something (We heard the strains of a violin through the window.)

Sinónimos: melody, tune

Expresiones frecuentes: strains of music, gentle strain, familiar strain

linaje, estirpe

Familia o grupo de personas que descienden de los mismos antepasados.

En inglés sencillo: A family line or group connected by shared ancestors.

• He came from a noble strain.
• The family claimed an ancient royal strain.
• Breeders valued the horses from that strain.

Sinónimos: lineage, stock, family line

Expresiones frecuentes: noble strain, ancient strain, strain of something

esforzarse

Hacer un gran esfuerzo para conseguir algo difícil.

En inglés sencillo: To make a great effort to do something difficult.

• I strained to see the sign.
• He strains to hear quiet voices.
• We were straining to reach the top shelf.

Cómo se usa: strain to do something (She strained to hear the announcement.)

Sinónimos: struggle, exert yourself

Expresiones frecuentes: strain to hear, strain to see, strain your eyes, strain to listen

colar, filtrar

Pasar una mezcla por agujeros pequeños para separar sus componentes.

En inglés sencillo: To pass a mixture through small holes to separate its parts.

• Strain the soup before serving.
• She strained the juice through a cloth.
• Have you strained out the seeds?

Cómo se usa: strain something through something (Strain the juice through a fine sieve.); strain something out of something (Strain the seeds out of the juice.)

Sinónimos: filter

Expresiones frecuentes: strain the soup, strain through something, strain out something, strain the pasta

tensar

Tirar con fuerza de algo para dejarlo tenso o estirarlo.

En inglés sencillo: To pull something hard so that it becomes tight or stretched.

• The load strained the rope.
• Heavy winds strain the cables holding the mast.
• They strained the wire until it was tight.

Sinónimos: stretch, pull taut

Expresiones frecuentes: strain a rope, strain a cable, strain the supports