'Straiten' definitions:
Definition of 'straiten'
From: WordNet
verb
Bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship [syn: straiten, distress]
verb
Squeeze together
Definition of 'Straiten'
From: GCIDE
- Straiten \Strait"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Straitened; p. pr. & vb. n. Straitening.]
- 1. To make strait; to make narrow; hence, to contract; to confine. [1913 Webster]
- Waters, when straitened, as at the falls of bridges, give a roaring noise. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- In narrow circuit, straitened by a foe. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To make tense, or tight; to tighten. [1913 Webster]
- They straiten at each end the cord. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To restrict; to distress or embarrass in respect of means or conditions of life; -- used chiefly in the past participle; -- as, a man straitened in his circumstances. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'straiten'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- arrest,
- bottle up,
- bound,
- box in,
- box up,
- bridle,
- cabin,
- casket,
- check,
- cloister,
- closet,
- coffin,
- condition,
- confine,
- constrain,
- constrict,
- contain,
- contract,
- control,
- cool,
- cool off,
- copyright,
- cramp,
- crib,
- curb,
- curtail,
- decelerate,
- diminish,
- discipline,
- dompt,
- draw in,
- draw the line,
- encase,
- enjoin,
- entomb,
- go in,
- govern,
- guard,
- hedge about,
- hinder,
- hold,
- hold at bay,
- hold back,
- hold fast,
- hold in,
- hold in check,
- hold in leash,
- hold up,
- immure,
- inhibit,
- keep,
- keep back,
- keep from,
- keep in,
- keep in check,
- keep under control,
- lay under restraint,
- limit,
- moderate,
- narrow,
- patent,
- prohibit,
- pull,
- pull in,
- qualify,
- register,
- rein,
- rein in,
- restrain,
- restrict,
- retard,
- retrench,
- scant,
- set back,
- slow down,
- snape,
- snub,
- specialize,
- stint,
- taper,
- withhold