strong Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective having strength or power greater than average or expected
    • a strong radio signal
    • strong medicine
    • a strong man
  2. adjective satellite not faint or feeble
    • a strong odor of burning rubber
  3. adjective satellite having or wielding force or authority
    potent.
    • providing the ground soldier with increasingly potent weapons
  4. adjective having a strong physiological or chemical effect
    potent; stiff.
    • a potent toxin
    • potent liquor
    • a potent cup of tea", "a stiff drink
  5. adjective satellite immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
    unattackable; secure; unassailable; impregnable; inviolable.
    • an impregnable fortress
    • fortifications that made the frontier inviolable
    • a secure telephone connection
  6. adjective satellite of good quality and condition; solidly built
    solid; substantial.
    • a solid foundation
    • several substantial timber buildings
  7. adjective satellite of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection
    • `sing' is a strong verb
  8. adjective satellite being distilled rather than fermented; having a high alcoholic content
    hard.
    • hard liquor
  9. adjective satellite freshly made or left
    warm.
    • a warm trail
    • the scent is warm
  10. adjective satellite strong and sure
    firm.
    • a firm grasp
    • gave a strong pull on the rope

WordNet

Strong adjective
Etymology
AS. strang, strong; akin to D. & G. streng strict, rigorous, OHG. strengi strong, brave, harsh, Icel. strangr strong, severe, Dan. streng, Sw. sträng strict, severe. Cf. Strength, Stretch, String.
Wordforms
comparative Stronger ; superlative Strongest
Definitions
  1. Having active physical power, or great physical power to act; having a power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous.
    That our oxen may be strong to labor. Ps. cxliv. 14.
    Orses the strong to greater strength must yield. Dryden.
  2. Having passive physical power; having ability to bear or endure; firm; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution; strong health.
  3. Solid; tough; not easily broken or injured; able to withstand violence; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong beam; a strong rock; a strong fortress or town.
  4. Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a strong army or fleet; a nation strong at sea.
  5. Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong house, or company of merchants.
  6. Reaching a certain degree or limit in respect to strength or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
  7. Moving with rapidity or force; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the northeast; a strong tide.
  8. Adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination; striking or superior of the kind; powerful; forcible; cogent; as, a strong argument; strong reasons; strong evidence; a strong example; strong language.
  9. Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong partisan; a strong Whig or Tory.
    Her mother, ever strong against that match. Shak.
  10. Having virtues of great efficacy; or, having a particular quality in a great degree; as, a strong powder or tincture; a strong decoction; strong tea or coffee.
  11. Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
  12. Affecting any sense powerfully; as, strong light, colors, etc.; a strong flavor of onions; a strong scent.
  13. Solid; nourishing; as, strong meat. Heb. v. 12.
  14. Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a strong custom; a strong belief.
  15. Violent; vehement; earnest; ardent.
    He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears. Heb. v. 7.
  16. Having great force, vigor, power, or the like, as the mind, intellect, or any faculty; as, a man of a strong mind, memory, judgment, or imagination.
    I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism. Dryden.
  17. Vigorous; effective; forcible; powerful.
    Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song, As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong. E. Smith.
  18. (Stock Exchange) Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a strong market.
  19. (Gram.) (a) Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) by a variation in the root vowel, and the past participle (usually) by the addition of -en (with or without a change of the root vowel); as in the verbs strive, strove, striven; break, broke, broken; drink, drank, drunk. Opposed to weak, or regular. See Weak. (b) Applied to forms in Anglo-Saxon, etc., which retain the old declensional endings. In the Teutonic languages the vowel stems have held the original endings most firmly, and are called strong; the stems in -n are called weak other constant stems conform, or are irregular. F. A. March. ✍ Strong is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, strong-backed, strong-based, strong-bodied, strong-colored, strong-fisted, strong-handed, strong-ribbed, strong-smelling, strong-voiced, etc. Syn. -- Vigorous; powerful; stout; solid; firm; hardy; muscular; forcible; cogent; valid. See Robust.

Webster 1913