strong

Etymology

From Middle English strong, strang, from Old English strang, from Proto-West Germanic *strang, from Proto-Germanic *strangaz (“tight, strict, straight, strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“taut, stiff, tight”). Cognate with Scots strang (“strong”), Saterland Frisian strang, West Frisian string (“austere, strict, harsh, severe, stern, stark, tough”), Dutch streng (“strict, severe, tight”), German streng (“strict, severe, austere”), Swedish sträng, strang (“severe, strict, harsh”), Norwegian strang (“strong, harsh, bitter”), Norwegian streng (“strong, hard”), Icelandic strangur (“strict”), Latin stringō (“tighten”).

adj

1. Capable of producing great physical force.
   a big strong man; Jake was tall and strong
2. Capable of withstanding great physical force.
   a strong foundation; good strong shoes
3. (of water, wind, etc.) Having a lot of power.
   The man was nearly drowned after a strong undercurrent swept him out to sea.
4. Determined; unyielding.
   It noted China was especially strong in the fast-growing area of “deep learning.” Audio (US) (file) 3 February 2019, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America, archived from the original on 2019-02-07
   He is strong in the face of adversity.
5. Highly stimulating to the senses.
   a strong light; a strong taste
6. Having an offensive or intense odor or flavor.
   a strong smell
7. Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient.
   a strong cup of coffee; a strong medicine
8. (specifically) Having a high alcoholic content.
   a strong drink
   She gets up, and pours herself a strong one. - Eagles, Lying Eyes
9. (grammar) Inflecting in a different manner than the one called weak, such as Germanic verbs which change vowels.
   a strong verb
10. (chemistry) That completely ionizes into anions and cations in a solution.
    a strong acid; a strong base
11. (military) Not easily subdued or taken.
    a strong position
12. Having wealth or resources.
    a strong economy
13. (slang, US) Impressive, good.
    You're working with troubled youth in your off time? That’s strong!
14. Having a specified number of people or units.
    The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.
15. (of a disease or symptom) Severe; very bad or intense.
    Physicians may diagnosis influenza by a throat culture or blood test, which may be important if you have a particularly strong flu, if your doctor suspects pneumonia or a bacterial infection. 2005, Andrew Gaeddert, Healing Immune Disorders: Natural Defense-Building Solutions, North Atlantic Books, page 221
16. (mathematics, logic) Having a wide range of logical consequences; widely applicable. (Often contrasted with a weak statement which it implies.)
17. (of an argument) Convincing.
    […] but grounding him ſelfe vpon ſtrong reaſons, to wit, that he had not offended the Iewes, neither yet the Law, but that he was innocēt, and therefore that no iudge oght to geue hym in the hādes of his ennemies […] 1558, John Knox, The Appellation of Iohn Knoxe from the cruell and moſt iniuſt ſentence pronounced againſt him by the falſe biſhoppes and clergie of Scotland, page 11v

adv

1. In a strong manner.