Definitions for Strait
streɪtstrait

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. strait, soundnoun

   a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

2. pass, strait, straitsadjective

   a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

3. straitadjective

   narrow

   "strait is the gate"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. straitnoun

   A narrow channel of water connecting two larger bodies of water.

   The Strait of Gibraltar

2. straitnoun

   A difficult position (often used in plural)

   To be in dire straits

3. straitadjective

   narrow; restricted as to space or room; close

4. straitadjective

   righteous, strict

   To follow the strait and narrow

5. Etymology: From streit, from estreit (modern form étroit), from strictus, perfect passive participle of stringo. Doublet of strict.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. STRAITadjective

   Etymology: estroit, French; stretto, Italian.

   1. Narrow; close; not wide.

   Witnesses, like watches go
   Just as they’re set, too fast or slow;
   And where in conscience they’re streight lac’d,
   ’Tis ten to one that side is cast. Hudibras.

   2. Close; intimate.

   He, forgetting all former injuries, had received that naughty Plexirtus into a straight degree of favour, his goodness being as apt to be deceived, as the other’s craft was to deceive. Philip Sidney.

   3. Strict; rigorous.

   Therefore hold I strait all thy commandments; and all false ways I utterly abhor. Psalms, Common Prayer.

   Fugitives are not relieved by the profit of their lands in England, for there is a straighter order taken. Edmund Spenser.

   He now, forsooth, takes on him to reform
   Some certain edicts, and some strait decrees
   That lay too heavy on the commonwealth. William Shakespeare.

   4. Difficult; distressful.

   Proceed no straiter ’gainst our uncle Glo’ster
   Than from the evidence of good esteem,
   He be approv’d in practice culpable. William Shakespeare, Henry VI.

   5. It is used in opposition to crooked, but is then more properly written straight. [See Streight.]

   A bell or a cannon may be heard beyond a hill which intercepts the sight of the sounding body, and sounds are propagated as readily through crooked pipes as through streight ones. Isaac Newton, Opticks.

2. Straitnoun

   1. A narrow pass, or frith.

   Plant garrisons to command the streights and narrow passages. Edmund Spenser.

   Honour travels in a streight so narrow,
   Where one but goes abreast. William Shakespeare, Troil. and Cressida.

   Fretum Magellanicum, or Magellan’s Straits. George Abbot.

   They went forth unto the straits of the mountain. Judith.

   The Saracens brought together with their victories their language and religion into all that coast of Africk, even from Egypt to the streights of Gibraltar. Edward Brerewood, on Languages.

   2. Distress; difficulty.

   The independent party which abhorred all motions towards peace, were in as great streights as the other how to carry on their designs. Edward Hyde.

   It was impossible to have administred such advice to the king, in the streight he was in, which being pursued might not have proved inconvenient. Edward Hyde.

   Thyself
   Bred up in poverty, and streights at home,
   Lost in a desart here, and hunger-bit. John Milton, Paradise Reg.

   Thus Adam, sore beset! reply’d,
   O heav’n! in evil streight this day I stand
   Before my Judge. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

   Let no man who owns a Providence grow desperate under any calamity or strait whatsoever, but compose the anguish of his thoughts upon this one consideration, that he comprehends not those strange unaccountable methods by which Providence may dispose of him. Robert South, Sermons.

   Some modern authors observing what straits they have been put to in all ages, to find out water enough for Noah’s flood, say, Noah’s flood was not universal, but a national inundation. Thomas Burnet, Theory of the Earth.

   ’Tis hard with me, whatever choice I make,
   I must not merit you, or must forsake:
   But in this streight, to honour I’ll be true,
   And leave my fortune to the gods and you. Dryden.

   Cæsar sees
   The streights to which you’re driven, and as he knows
   Cato’s high worth, is anxious for your life. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   Ulysses made use of the pretence of natural infirmity to conceal the straits he was in at that time in his thoughts. William Broome.

3. To Straitverb

   To put to difficulties.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   If your lass
   Interpretation should abuse, and call this
   Your lack of love or bounty; you were straited
   For a reply, at least, if you make care
   Of happy holding her. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Strait

   A strait is an oceanic landform connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. The surface water generally flows at the same elevation on both sides and through the strait in either direction. Most commonly, it is a narrow ocean channel that lies between two land masses. Some straits are not navigable, for example because they are either too narrow or too shallow, or because of an unnavigable reef or archipelago. Straits are also known to be loci for sediment accumulation. Usually, sand-size deposits occur on both the two opposite strait exits, forming subaqueous fans or deltas.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Straitadjective

   a variant of Straight

2. Strait

   narrow; not broad

3. Strait

   tight; close; closely fitting

4. Strait

   close; intimate; near; familiar

5. Strait

   strict; scrupulous; rigorous

6. Strait

   difficult; distressful; straited

7. Strait

   parsimonious; niggargly; mean

8. Straitadverb

   strictly; rigorously

9. Straitadjective

   a narrow pass or passage

10. Straitadjective

    a (comparatively) narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water; -- often in the plural; as, the strait, or straits, of Gibraltar; the straits of Magellan; the strait, or straits, of Mackinaw

11. Straitadjective

    a neck of land; an isthmus

12. Straitadjective

    fig.: A condition of narrowness or restriction; doubt; distress; difficulty; poverty; perplexity; -- sometimes in the plural; as, reduced to great straits

13. Straitverb

    to put to difficulties

14. Etymology: [OE. straight, streyt, streit, OF. estreit, estroit, F. troit, from L. strictus drawn together, close, tight, p. p. of stringere to draw tight. See 2nd Strait, and cf. Strict.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Strait

   A strait is a narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not navigable, for example because it is too shallow, or because it contains an unnavigable reef or archipelago.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Strait

   strāt, adj. difficult: distressful: (obs. strict, rigorous: narrow, so in B.).—n. a narrow pass in a mountain, or in the ocean between two portions of land: difficulty, distress.—v.t. to stretch, tighten: to distress.—v.t. Strait′en, to make strait or narrow: to confine: to draw tight: to distress: to put into difficulties.—adjs. Straight′-heart′ed, stingy; Strait′-laced, rigid or narrow in opinion.—adv. Strait′ly, narrowly: (B.) strictly.—ns. Strait′ness, state of being strait or narrow: strictness: (B.) distress or difficulty; Strait′-waist′coat, Strait′-jack′et, a dress made with long sleeves, which are tied behind, so that the arms are confined. [O. Fr. estreit, estrait (Fr. étroit)—L. strictus, pa.p. of stringĕre, to draw tight.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. strait

   A passage connecting one part of a sea with another; as, the Straits of Gibraltar, of Sunda, of Dover, &c. This word is often written in the plural, but without competent reason.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. STRAIT

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Strait is ranked #5352 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Strait surname appeared 6,505 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 would have the surname Strait.
   
   89.9% or 5,849 total occurrences were White.
   4.8% or 316 total occurrences were Black.
   2.2% or 148 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   1.7% or 111 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   0.6% or 44 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
   0.5% or 37 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

1. • Channel

Anagrams for Strait »

1. artist

2. strati

3. traits

How to pronounce Strait?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Strait in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Strait in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Strait in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of Strait in a Sentence

1. Park Jin:

   We are opposed to unilateral change of (the) status quo by force. So in that sense, we will make sure that if something happens in the Taiwan Strait, we have to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

2. Kent Finlay:

   The truth of the matter is that every major label passed on George Strait, that van had two seats and an Army cot in the back. We took turns driving and riding and sleeping in the cot.

3. Fan Liqing:

   We welcome Taiwan compatriots to participate in memorial activities, and hope people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can always remember history, cherish the memory of martyrs and rally together through war victory activities.

4. Joseph Wu:

   I along with our country's people feel sad, angry and regretful, i need to emphasize here that China grabbing our allies and giving us pressure in the diplomatic space will not shrink the distance across the (Taiwan) strait and will not let cross-strait relations walk on a peaceful, friendly path.

5. Zhang Zhijun:

   Will cross-Taiwan Strait relations continue to advance on the road of peaceful development, so people can enjoy the peace dividend? ... Or will it turn back, turning its back on history and returning to the evil ways of Taiwan independence?

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