strength

English Online Dictionary. What means strength‎? What does strength mean?

English

Alternative forms

• strenght (misspelling, common for speakers lackinɡ [θ])

Etymology

From Middle English strengthe, from Old English strengþu (“strength”), from Proto-West Germanic *strangiþu (“strongness; strength”), equivalent to strong +‎ -th. Cognate with Dutch strengte (“strength”), German Low German Strengde, Strengte (“harshness; rigidity; strictness; severity”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /stɹɛŋkθ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): [st̠͡ɹ̠ɛŋkθ], [st̠͡ɹ̠ɛn̪θ], [s̠t͡ʃɹ̥ɛn̪θ]
  • (pin–pen merger) IPA^(key): [st̠͡ɹ̠ɪŋkθ]
  • (pre-/ŋ/ tensing) IPA^(key): [st̠͡ɹ̠ɛɪŋkθ], [st̠͡ɹ̠eɪŋkθ]
• Rhymes: -ɛŋθ, -ɛnθ

Noun

strength (countable and uncountable, plural strengths)

1. The quality or degree of being strong.

   Antonym: weakness
2. The intensity of a force or power; potency.
3. The strongest part of something; that on which confidence or reliance is based.
4. A positive attribute.

   Antonym: weakness

   to play to one's strengths
5. (obsolete) An armed force, a body of troops.
6. (obsolete) A strong place; a stronghold.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

strength (third-person singular simple present strengths, present participle strengthing, simple past and past participle strengthed)

1. (obsolete) To strengthen (all senses). [12th–17th c.]

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:strengthen