STRONG, a. [G., L. The sense of the radical word is to stretch, strain, draw, and probably from the root of stretch and reach.]

1. Having physical active power, or great physical power; having the power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous. A patient is recovering from sickness, but is not yet strong enough to walk. A strong man will lift twice his own weight. That our oxen may be strong to labor. – Ps. cxliv. Orses the strong to greater strength must yield. – Dryden.
2. Having physical passive power; having ability to bear or endure; firm; solid; as, a constitution strong enough to bear the fatigues of a campaign.
3. Well fortified; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong fortress or town.
4. Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a strong army or fleet; a strong nation; a nation strong at sea.
5. Having great wealth, means or resources; as, a strong house or company of merchants.
6. Moving with rapidity; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the northeast; we had a strong tide against us.
7. Hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution.
8. Powerful; forcible; cogent; adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination; as, a strong argument; strong reasons; strong evidence; a strong example or instance. He used 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; strong coffee.
11. Full of spirit; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
12. Affecting the sight forcibly; as, strong colors.
13. Affecting the taste forcibly; as, the strong flavor of onions.
14. Affecting the smell powerfully; as, a strong scent.
15. Not of easy digestion; solid; as, strong meat. – Heb. v.
16. Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a custom grown strong by time.
17. Violent; vehement; earnest. Who in the days of his flesh, when be offered up prayers with strong crying and tears. – Heb. v.
18. Able; furnished with abilities. I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism. – Dryden.
19. Having great force of mind, of intellect or of any faculty; as, a man of strong powers of mind; a man of a strong mind or intellect; a man of strong memory, judgment or imagination.
20. Having great force; comprising much in few words. Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song, / As high, as sweet, as easy and as strong. – Smith.
21. Bright; glaring; vivid; as, a strong light.
22. Powerful to the extent of force named; as, an army ten thousand strong.

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. Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a strong market.
19. 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)