straining

(noun) an intense or violent exertion. Synonyms: strain.

(noun) the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean. Synonyms: distortion, overrefinement, torture, twisting.

(verb) to exert much effort or energy. Synonyms: strive, reach, strain. Examples: "Straining our ears to hear."

(verb) test the limits of. Synonyms: try, strain, stress. Examples: "You are trying my patience!."

(verb) use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity. Synonyms: strain, extend. Examples: "He really extended himself when he climbed kilimanjaro." "Don't strain your mind too much."

(verb) separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements. Synonyms: sift, sieve, strain. Examples: "Sift the flour."

(verb) cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious. Synonyms: tense, strain, tense up. Examples: "He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up."

(verb) become stretched or tense or taut. Synonyms: strain, tense. Examples: "The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached."

(verb) remove by passing through a filter. Synonyms: filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out. Examples: "Filter out the impurities."

(verb) rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender. Synonyms: puree, strain. Examples: "Puree the vegetables for the baby."

(verb) alter the shape of (something) by stress. Synonyms: deform, distort, strain. Examples: "His body was deformed by leprosy."

(adj) taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance. Synonyms: arduous, strenuous. Examples: "His final, straining burst of speed." "A strenuous task." "Your willingness after these six arduous days to remain here"- f.d.roosevelt."