• Strong

    Pronunciation

    • RP enPR: strŏng, IPA: /stɹɒŋ/
    • Rhymes: -É’Å‹
    • GenAm enPR: strŏng, IPA: /stɹɑŋ/
    • US enPR: strŏng, IPA: /stɹɔŋ/

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    From Middle English strong, strang, from Old English strong, strang ("strong, powerful, mighty, able; firm, constant, resolute, strenuous, hardy; hard, severe, fierce, stern, strict; bold, brave; valid, assured; effective, producing a great effect, potent; earnest; arduous, violent"), from Proto-Germanic *strangaz ("tight, strict, straight, strong"), from Proto-Indo-European *streng-, *strenk- ("taut, stiff, tight"). Cognate with Scots strang ("strong"), Saterland Frisian strang, West Frisian string ("austere, strict, harsh, severe, stern, stark, tough"), Dutch streng ("strict, severe, tight"), German streng ("strict, severe, austere"), Swedish sträng, strang ("severe, strict, harsh"), Norwegian strang ("strong, harsh, bitter"), Icelandic strangur ("strict"), Latin stringō ("tighten").

    Full definition of strong

    Adjective

    strong

    1. Capable of producing great physical force.
      a big strong man;  Jake was tall and strong
    2. Capable of withstanding great physical force.
      a strong foundation;  good strong shoes
    3. fast moving water, wind, etc, which has a lot of power.
      The man was nearly drowned after a strong undercurrent swept him out to sea.
    4. Determined; unyielding.
      • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 10, It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
    5. He is strong in the face of adversity.
    6. Highly stimulating to the senses.
      a strong light;  a strong taste
    7. Having an offensive or intense odor or flavor.
      a strong smell
    8. Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient.
      a strong cup of coffee;  a strong medicine
    9. (specifically) Having a high alcoholic content.
      a strong drink
    10. (grammar) Inflecting in a different manner than the one called weak, such as Germanic verbs which change vowels.
      a strong verb
    11. (military) Not easily subdued or taken.
      a strong position
    12. (slang, US) Impressive, good.
      You're working with troubled youth in your off time? That’s strong!
    13. Having a specified number of people or units.
      The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.
    14. (of a disease or symptom) severe (very bad or intense)
      • 2005, Andrew Gaeddert, Healing Immune Disorders: Natural Defense-Building Solutions, North Atlantic Books, page 221:Physicians may diagnosis influenza by a throat culture or blood test, which may be important if you have a particularly strong flu, if your doctor suspects pneumonia or a bacterial infection.
    15. (mathematics, logic) Having a wide range of logical consequences; widely applicable. (Often contrasted with a weak statement which it implies.)

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

    • (capable of producing great physical force) forceless, weak
    • (capable of withstanding great physical force) fragile
    • (having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient) diluted, impotent, weak
    • (grammar: irregular) regular, weak
    • (military: not easily subdued or taken) weak

    Adverb

    strong

    1. In a strong manner.

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

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