strait
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a narrow area of sea that connects two larger bodies of water.
n.a narrow channel of water connecting two larger seas or lakes.
Simple“The ship sailed through the narrow strait between the two islands.”
In context“The Strait of Malacca remains one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, linking the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.”
PitfallThe ship sailed through the straight of Gibraltar. The ship sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar.Do not confuse 'strait' (water passage) with 'straight' (not curved).
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a very difficult situation, especially one where you do not have enough money.
n.a state of extreme difficulty, distress, or misfortune; almost exclusively used in the plural form 'straits'.
Simple“The company was in dire straits after losing its biggest customer.”
In context“Following the market crash, many small businesses found themselves in desperate financial straits, unable to secure the loans needed to stay afloat.”
UsageUsually appears in the plural form 'straits' and often follows the adjective 'dire'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.narrow or very limited in space; also used to describe very strict rules.
adj.restricted in space or scope; narrow. In modern English, this sense is largely preserved in fixed expressions like 'straitjacket' or 'strait-laced'.
Simple“The path through the mountains was strait and difficult to follow.”
In context“The monk lived a strait life, confined to a small cell and following the most rigorous rules of his order.”
Teacher's tipModern students will mostly see this root in the words 'straitjacket' or 'strait-laced'. In those cases, it is often misspelled as 'straight'.
“Verified videos show a major oil slick washing up on Iran's Qeshm Island, which analysts have said comes from a ship hit by a strike in the Strait of Hormuz.”
“The spill of Russian crude bound for India compounds the environmental damage from spills in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where tankers and oil facilities have come under attack.”