strength

[strengkth, strength, strenth] /strɛŋkθ, strɛŋθ, strɛnθ/
noun
1.
the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power; vigor.
2.
mental power, force, or vigor.
3.
moral power, firmness, or courage.
4.
power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.
5.
number, as of personnel or ships in a force or body:
a regiment with a strength of 3000.
6.
effective force, potency, or cogency, as of inducements or arguments:
the strength of his plea.
7.
power of resisting force, strain, wear, etc.
8.
vigor of action, language, feeling, etc.
9.
the effective or essential properties characteristic of a beverage, chemical, or the like:
The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.
10.
a particular proportion or concentration of these properties; intensity, as of light, color, sound, flavor, or odor:
coffee of normal strength.
11.
something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement; sustenance:
The Bible was her strength and joy.
12.
power to rise or remain firm in prices:
Stocks continued to show strength. The pound declined in strength.
Idioms
13.
on the strength of, on the basis of; relying on:
He was accepted by the college on the strength of ardent personal recommendations.
Origin
before 900; Middle English strengthe, Old English strengthu; see strong, -th1
Related forms
self-strength, noun
superstrength, noun
Synonyms
4. Strength, power, force, might suggest capacity to do something. Strength is inherent capacity to manifest energy, to endure, and to resist. Power is capacity to do work and to act. Force is the exercise of power: One has the power to do something. He exerts force when he does it. He has sufficient strength to complete it. Might is power or strength in a great or overwhelming degree: the might of an army. 9. potency. 10. brightness, loudness, vividness, pungency.
Examples from the web for strength
  • The tyranny of ageing is less the waning of physical strength than the burden of surviving life and loss.
  • It takes muscle strength and vigor to hold one's head up and sit up straight.
  • As some adults get older, they may no longer have the physical strength or agility to engage in their chosen pleasures of life.
  • One advantage of this adhesive over others is that its strength is strongly direction dependent.
  • In fact, the strength depends on the frequency and intensity of incident light.
  • When light hits a photosensor, it produces an electrical current whose strength reflects the intensity of the light.
  • For strength, reinforce the corners of the box with vertical posts.
  • The size and strength of the bubbles determine the durability of the meringue.
  • After planting, water the bowls regularly and feed weekly with half-strength fish emulsion.
  • Your experience, strength, and equipment determine how heavy a rock you can safely handle.
British Dictionary definitions for strength

strength

/strɛŋθ/
noun
1.
the state or quality of being physically or mentally strong
2.
the ability to withstand or exert great force, stress, or pressure
3.
something that is regarded as being beneficial or a source of power: their chief strength is technology
4.
potency, as of a drink, drug, etc
5.
power to convince; cogency: the strength of an argument
6.
degree of intensity or concentration of colour, light, sound, flavour, etc
7.
the full or part of the full complement as specified: at full strength, below strength
8.
(finance) firmness of or a rising tendency in prices, esp security prices
9.
(archaic or poetic) a stronghold or fortress
10.
(Austral & NZ, informal) the general idea, the main purpose: to get the strength of something
11.
from strength to strength, with ever-increasing success
12.
in strength, in large numbers
13.
on the strength of, on the basis of or relying upon
Word Origin
Old English strengthu; related to Old High German strengida; see strong
Word Origin and History for strength
n.

Old English strengþu "power, force, vigor, moral resistance," from Proto-Germanic *strangitho (cf. Old High German strengida "strength"), in gradational relationship to the root of strong, with Proto-Germanic abstract noun suffix *-itho (see -th (2)).

Idioms and Phrases with strength

strength

see: