strait
- strait
- [[t]stre͟ɪt[/t]]
straits
1)
N-COUNT: oft in
names You can refer to a narrow strip of sea which joins two large areas of sea as a
strait or
the straits.
An estimated 1600 vessels pass through the strait annually.
...the Straits of Gibraltar.
2)
N-PLURAL: adj N If someone is
in dire or desperate
straits, they are in a very difficult situation, usually because they do not have much money.
If we had a child, we'd be in really dire straits...
The company's closure has left many small businessmen in desperate financial straits.
English dictionary.
2008.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
Strait — Strait, n.; pl. {Straits}. [OE. straight, streit, OF. estreit, estroit. See {Strait}, a.] 1. A narrow pass or passage. [1913 Webster] He brought him through a darksome narrow strait To a broad gate all built of beaten gold. Spenser. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Strait — Strait, a. [Compar. {Straiter}; superl. {Straitest}.] [OE. straight, streyt, streit, OF. estreit, estroit, F. [ e]troit, from L. strictus drawn together, close, tight, p. p. of stringere to draw tight. See 2nd {Strait}, and cf. {Strict}.] 1.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
strait — n 1 Strait, sound, channel, passage, narrows can all denote a long and comparatively narrow stretch of water connecting two larger bodies. Strait, often as the plural straits with either singular or plural construction, denotes a relatively short … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Strait — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: George Strait (* 1952), US amerikanischer Musiker George Strait Jr. (George „Bubba“ Strait Jr.; * 1981), US amerikanischer Country Sänger, Songwriter und Rodeocowboy Horace B. Strait (1835–1894), US… … Deutsch Wikipedia
strait — strait·en; strait·ly; strait·ness; strait; strait·laced·ly; strait·laced·ness; … English syllables
strait — [streıt] n [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: strait narrow (13 20 centuries), from Old French estreit, from Latin strictus; STRICT] 1.) also straits [plural] a narrow passage of water between two areas of land, usually connecting two seas ▪ the Bering… … Dictionary of contemporary English
strait — (n.) mid 14c., narrow, confined space or place, specifically of bodies of water from late 14c., noun use of adj. strait narrow, strict (late 13c.), from O.Fr. estreit (Fr. étroit) tight, close, narrow (also used as a noun), from L. strictus, pp.… … Etymology dictionary
Strait — Strait, a. A variant of {Straight}. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Strait — Strait, adv. Strictly; rigorously. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Strait — Strait, v. t. To put to difficulties. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
strait — [n1] crisis, difficulty bewilderment, bind, bottleneck*, choke point*, contingency, crossroad, dilemma, distress, embarrassment, emergency, exigency, extremity, hardship, hole*, mess*, mystification, pass, perplexity, pinch*, plight, predicament … New thesaurus