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3 N‑COUNT If you are a stranger in a place, you do not know the place well. □  'You don't know much about our town, do you?'—'No, I'm a stranger here.'

4 N‑COUNT If you are a stranger to something, you have had no experience of it or do not understand it. □ [+ to ] He is no stranger to controversy. □ [+ to ] We were both strangers to diplomatic life.

5 → see also strange

stran|gle /stræ ŋg ^ə l/ (strangles , strangling , strangled )

1 VERB To strangle someone means to kill them by squeezing their throat tightly so that they cannot breathe. □ [V n] He tried to strangle a border policeman and steal his gun.

2 VERB To strangle something means to prevent it from succeeding or developing. □ [V n] The country's economic plight is strangling its scientific institutions.

stran|gled /stræ ŋg ^ə ld/ ADJ [ADJ n] A strangled voice or cry sounds unclear because the throat muscles of the person speaking or crying are tight. [LITERARY ] □  In a strangled voice he said, 'This place is going to be unthinkable without you.'

strangle|hold /stræ ŋg ^ə lhoʊld/ N‑SING To have a stranglehold on something means to have control over it and prevent it from being free or from developing. □  These companies are determined to keep a stranglehold on the banana industry.

stran|gu|la|tion /stræ ŋgjʊle I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Strangulation is the act of killing someone by squeezing their throat tightly so that they cannot breathe. □ [+ of ] He is charged with the strangulation of two students.

strap /stræ p/ (straps , strapping , strapped )

1 N‑COUNT A strap is a narrow piece of leather, cloth, or other material. Straps are used to carry things, fasten things together, or to hold a piece of clothing in place. □ [+ of ] Nancy gripped the strap of her beach bag. □ [+ of ] She pulled the strap of her nightgown onto her shoulder. □  I undid my watch strap.

2 VERB If you strap something somewhere, you fasten it there with a strap. □ [V n prep] We strapped the skis onto the roof of the car. □ [V n with on/in/down ] Through the basement window I saw him strap on his pink cycling helmet.

strap|less /stræ pləs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A strapless dress or bra does not have the usual narrow bands of material over the shoulders. □  …a black, strapless evening dress.

strapped /stræ pt/

1 ADJ [adv ADJ ] If someone is strapped for money, they do not have enough money to buy or pay for the things they want or need. □ [+ for ] My husband and I are really strapped for cash.

2 → see also cash-strapped

strap|ping /stræ p I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as strapping , you mean that they are tall and strong, and look healthy. [APPROVAL ] □  He was a bricklayer–a big, strapping fellow.

strap|py /stræ p I /

1 ADJ A strappy dress or top has thin shoulder straps.

2 ADJ Strappy shoes have thin straps over the feet. □  …strappy sandals.

stra|ta /strɑː tə, [AM ] stre I tə/ Strata is the plural of stratum .

strata|gem /stræ tədʒəm/ (stratagems ) N‑COUNT A stratagem is a plan that is intended to achieve a particular effect, often by deceiving people. [FORMAL ] □  Trade discounts may be used as a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty.

stra|tegic ◆◇◇ /strətiː dʒ I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Strategic means relating to the most important, general aspects of something such as a military operation or political policy, especially when these are decided in advance. □  …the new strategic thinking at the recent London summit. □  The island is of strategic importance to France. ●  stra|tegi|cal|ly /strətiː dʒ I kli/ ADV □  …strategically important roads, bridges and buildings.