Is strain a noun or verb?

"Strain" can be both a noun and a verb. Here's how it works:

Noun:

* Definition: A force that tends to deform a body.

* Example: "The bridge collapsed under the strain of the heavy truck."

Verb:

* Definition: To stretch or tighten, often to the point of damage.

* Example: "He strained his back lifting the heavy box."

Here are some other ways to use "strain":

* Noun: A type of bacteria (like in "E. coli strain").

* Verb: To filter (like in "strain the spaghetti sauce").

It's important to look at the context to determine whether "strain" is functioning as a noun or a verb in a given sentence.