STRENGTH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does strength mean? 

• STRENGTH (noun)
  The noun STRENGTH has 9 senses:

1. the property of being physically or mentally strong

2. capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war

3. physical energy or intensity

4. an asset of special worth or utility

5. the power to induce the taking of a course of action or the embracing of a point of view by means of argument or entreaty

6. the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

7. capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects

8. the condition of financial success

9. permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force

  Familiarity information: STRENGTH used as a noun is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRENGTH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The property of being physically or mentally strong

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

fatigue sapped his strength

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

property (a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class)

Attribute:

delicate (exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury)

rugged (sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring)

strong (having strength or power greater than average or expected)

weak (wanting in physical strength)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

brawn; brawniness; heftiness; muscle; muscularity; sinew (possessing muscular strength)

good part (a place of especial strength)

invulnerability (the property of being invulnerable; the property of being incapable of being hurt (physically or emotionally))

endurance (the power to withstand hardship or stress)

indomitability; invincibility (the property being difficult or impossible to defeat)

firmness; soundness (the muscle tone of healthy tissue)

sturdiness (the property of something that is strongly built)

stalwartness; stoutness (the property of being strong and resolute)

huskiness; ruggedness; toughness (the property of being big and strong)

hardiness; lustiness; robustness (the property of being strong and healthy in constitution)

dynamism; heartiness; vigor; vigour (active strength of body or mind)

might; mightiness; power (physical strength)

Antonym:

weakness (the property of lacking physical or mental strength; liability to failure under pressure or stress or strain)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

military capability; military posture; military strength; posture; strength

Context example:

politicians have neglected our military posture

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

capability; capableness (the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

sea power (naval strength)

firepower ((military) the relative capacity for delivering fire on a target)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Physical energy or intensity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

force; forcefulness; strength

Context example:

a government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

intensity; intensiveness (high level or degree; the property of being intense)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

brunt (main force of a blow etc)

impulse; momentum (an impelling force or strength)

energy; vigor; vigour; zip (forceful exertion)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An asset of special worth or utility

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

forte; long suit; metier; speciality; specialty; strength; strong point; strong suit

Context example:

cooking is his forte

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

asset; plus (a useful or valuable quality)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

green fingers; green thumb (a special ability to make plants grow)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The power to induce the taking of a course of action or the embracing of a point of view by means of argument or entreaty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

persuasiveness; strength

Context example:

the strength of his argument settled the matter

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

convincingness (the power of argument or evidence to cause belief)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

intensity; intensity level; strength

Context example:

they measured the station's signal strength

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

magnitude (the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

radio brightness (the strength of a radio wave picked up by a radio telescope)

threshold level (the intensity level that is just barely perceptible)

field intensity; field strength (the vector sum of all the forces exerted by an electrical or magnetic field (on a unit mass or unit charge or unit magnetic pole) at a given point in the field)

candlepower; light intensity (luminous intensity measured in candelas)

acoustic power; sound pressure level (the physical intensity of sound)

half-intensity (half the maximum intensity)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

effectiveness; potency; strength

Context example:

the strength of the drinks

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)

Attribute:

potent; stiff; strong (having a strong physiological or chemical effect)

impotent (lacking power or ability)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The condition of financial success

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

the strength of the company's stock in recent weeks

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

prosperity; successfulness (the condition of prospering; having good fortune)

Antonym:

weakness (the condition of being financially weak)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

durability; enduringness; lastingness; strength

Context example:

they advertised the durability of their products

Hypernyms ("strength" is a kind of...):

permanence; permanency (the property of being able to exist for an indefinite duration)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strength"):

tensile strength (the strength of material expressed as the greatest longitudinal stress it can bear without tearing apart)

everlastingness (the property of lasting forever)

changelessness (the property of remaining unchanged)

continuity; persistence (the property of a continuous and connected period of time)

indestructibility (the strength to resist destruction)

 Context examples 

The strength of the effect is likely to depend on how well the two people know each other and the level of trust between them.

(Mothers’ and babies’ brains ‘more in tune’ when mother is happy, University of Cambridge)

But Summerlee was at the end of his strength.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The strength of the material at its locked state allowed the gripper to lift objects up to 1,000 times its own weight.

(Tiny magnetic particles enable new material to bend, twist and grab, National Science Foundation)

I have been too abrupt in communicating the news; it has excited you beyond your strength.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Genetically eliminating Shisa7 from neurons reduced the number of GABAA receptors and decreased the strength of electrical currents generated by synaptic GABAA receptor responses.

(‘Sticky’ gene may help Valium calm nerves, National Institutes of Health)

“We studied a large group over a long period, which adds strength to our findings,” he said.

(Frequently brushing teeth may help prevent heart attacks, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Planets in Capricorn emphasize the strength of your bones, teeth, skin, and eye health, so make sure to get exams covering these areas on your list.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Do that likewise, said the giant, if you have strength.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Sallie had urged her to do it, had offered to lend the money, and with the best intentions in life had tempted Meg beyond her strength.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Earthshine varies in strength throughout the year, since the light reflected from the Earth varies.

(Earthshine, NASA)