force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make an unusually great effort
I stopped and listened, straining my ears for any sound
pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a porous or perforated device or material in order to separate out any solid matter
strain the custard into a bowl
(of a limb or muscle) injured by overexertion or twisting
(of a mainly liquid substance) having been strained to separate out any solid matter