strong

adjective (stronger; strongest) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English strang; akin to Old High German strengi strong, Latin stringere to bind tight — more at strain Date: before 12th century 1. having or marked by great physical power 2. having moral or intellectual power 3. having great resources (as of wealth or talent) 4. of a specified number <

an army ten thousand strong

> 5. a. striking or superior of its kind <

a strong resemblance

> b. effective or efficient especially in a specified direction <

strong on watching other people work — A. Alvarez

> 6. forceful, cogent <

strong evidence

> <

strong talk

> 7. not mild or weak ; extreme, intense: as a. rich in some active agent <

strong beer

> b. of a color high in chroma c. ionizing freely in solution <

strong acids and bases

> d. magnifying by refracting greatly <

a strong lens

> 8. obsolete flagrant 9. moving with rapidity or force <

a strong wind

> 10. ardent, zealous <

a strong supporter

> 11. a. not easily injured or disturbed ; solid b. not easily subdued or taken <

a strong fort

> 12. well established ; firm <

strong beliefs

> 13. not easily upset or nauseated <

a strong stomach

> 14. having an offensive or intense odor or flavor ; rank <

strong breath

> 15. tending to steady or higher prices <

a strong market

> 16. of, relating to, or being a verb that is inflected by a change in the root vowel (as strive, strove, striven) rather than by regular affixation • strong adverb • strongish adjective • strongly adverb Synonyms: strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure. strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources <

strong arms

> <

the defense has a strong case

>. stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way <

stout hiking boots

>. sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction <

a sturdy table

> <

people of sturdy independence

>. stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability <

stalwart environmentalists

>. tough implies great firmness and resiliency <

a tough political opponent

>. tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together <

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

>.