constrain

con·strain

 (kən-strān′)

tr.v. con·strained, con·strain·ing, con·strains

1.

a. To keep within certain limits; confine or limit: "Legislators ... used the power of the purse to constrain the size of the military" (Julian E. Zelizer).

b. To inhibit or restrain; hold back: "She noticed her mother blushing and acting somewhat constrained in her conversation with the grandmother" (David Huddle).

2. To compel by physical, moral, or circumstantial force; oblige: felt constrained to object to his behavior.

3. To produce in a forced or inhibited manner: "This smile seemed to touch something off in her ... and playfully she constrained her own roguish smile" (Naeem Murr).

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[Middle English constreinen, from Old French constraindre, constraign-, from Latin cōnstringere, to restrain, compress : com-, com- + stringere, to bind, press together; see streig- in Indo-European roots.]

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con·strain′a·ble adj.

con·strain′ed·ly (-strā′nĭd-lē) adv.

con·strain′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

constrain

(kənˈstreɪn)

vb (tr)

1. to compel or force, esp by persuasion, circumstances, etc; oblige

2. to restrain by or as if by force; confine

[C14: from Old French constreindre, from Latin constringere to bind together, from stringere to bind]

conˈstrainer n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•strain

(kənˈstreɪn)

v.t.

1. to force, compel, or oblige.

2. to confine forcibly, as by bonds.

3. to repress or restrain.

[1275–1325; Middle English constrei(g)nen < Anglo-French, Middle French constrei(g)n-, s. of constreindre < Latin constringere. See con-, strain¹]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

constrain

Past participle: constrained
Gerund: constraining

Imperative

constrain

constrain

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	constrain - hold back cumber, encumber, restrain confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends" bridle - put a bridle on; "bridle horses" curb - keep to the curb; "curb your dogs" clog - impede the motion of, as with a chain or a burden; "horses were clogged until they were tamed"
	2.	constrain - restrict; "Tighten the rules"; "stiffen the regulations" tighten up, stiffen, tighten confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

constrain

verb

1. restrict, confine, curb, restrain, rein, constrict, hem in, straiten, check, chain Women are too often constrained by family commitments.

2. force, pressure, urge, bind, compel, oblige, necessitate, coerce, impel, pressurize, drive Individuals will be constrained to make many sacrifices for the greater good.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

constrain

verb

1. To cause (a person or thing) to act or move in spite of resistance:

coerce, compel, force, make, obligate, oblige, pressure.

2. To control, restrict, or arrest:

bit, brake, bridle, check, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain.

3. To check the freedom and spontaneity of:

constrict, cramp, inhibit.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

astreindrecontraindreétreindreimposerlimiter

costringere

подпирать

constrain

[kənˈstreɪn] VT (= oblige) → obligar
to constrain sb to do sth → obligar a algn a hacer algo
to feel/be constrained to do sth → sentirse/verse obligado a hacer algo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

constrain

[kənˈstreɪn] vt

(= compel) → contraindre, forcer
to be constrained to do sth → être forcé(e) de faire qch, se voir dans l'obligation de faire qch

(= restrain) → contraindre
to be constrained by sth → être contraint(e) par qch

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

constrain

vt → zwingen; one’s temper → zügeln

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

constrain

[kənˈstreɪn] vt → costringere

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

constrain

v. restringir; impedir.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012