What is the meaning of strained?

verb

• To exert much effort or energy.
  • usage: "straining our ears to hear"
  • synonyms: strive, reach, strain
• Test the limits of.
  • usage: "You are trying my patience"
  • synonyms: try, strain, stress
• Use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity.
  • usage: "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much"
  • synonyms: strain, extend
• Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements.
  • usage: "sift the flour"
  • synonyms: sift, sieve, strain
• Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious.
  • usage: "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
  • synonyms: tense, strain, tense up
• Become stretched or tense or taut.
  • usage: "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
  • synonyms: strain, tense
• Remove by passing through a filter.
  • usage: "filter out the impurities"
  • synonyms: filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out
• Rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender.
  • usage: "puree the vegetables for the baby"
  • synonyms: puree, strain
• Alter the shape of (something) by stress.
  • usage: "His body was deformed by leprosy"
  • synonyms: deform, distort, strain

adjective

• Lacking natural ease.
  • usage: "a labored style of debating"
  • synonyms: labored, laboured
• Showing signs of mental and emotional tension.
  • usage: "her voice was strained as she asked the question"
• Lacking spontaneity; not natural.
  • usage: "a constrained smile"; "forced heartiness"; "a strained smile"
  • synonyms: constrained, forced
• Struggling for effect.
  • usage: "agonistic poses"
  • synonyms: agonistic