transitive. To cause (a person) to toil; to set to hard work, to overwork; to afflict with trouble. Chiefly reflexive: to make oneself toil, to…

To stretch (sinews, nerves, muscles) beyond the normal degree (as the supposed condition of intense exertion); hence, to force to extreme effort…

transitive. To subject (someone or something) to stress, strain, or exertion; spec. to tire, fatigue, or overwork (a person's body or mind).

to put, set, place,etc. on the rack: to stretch (faculties, words, etc.) to the limit; to put (a person) in an extremely difficult or awkward…

transferred and figurative. To occupy or engage fully or burdensomely; to subject to severe burden, labour, or trial; to put a strain upon; to put…

figurative. To burden; to make serious demands upon; to put a strain on.

To urge, compel to violent effort; †to exert (one's strength) to the utmost. spec. in games and sport.