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11 N‑UNCOUNT You can talk about the strength of a flavour, smell, colour, sound, or light to describe how intense or easily noticed it is. □ [+ of ] The cheese is matured for 5-12 months depending on the strength of flavour required.

12 PHRASE If a person or organization goes from strength to strength , they become more and more successful or confident. □  A decade later, the company has gone from strength to strength.

13 PHRASE If a team or army is at full strength , all the members that it needs or usually has are present. □  He needed more time to bring U.S. forces there up to full strength. □  …a full-strength team.

14 PHRASE If a group turns out in strength , they arrive in large numbers. □  She called on voters and party workers to turn out in strength. □  Security forces have been out in strength.

15 PHRASE If one thing is done on the strength of another, it is done because of the influence of that other thing. □  He was elected to power on the strength of his charisma.

16 PHRASE If an army or team is under strength or below strength , it does not have all the members that it needs or usually has. □  His regiments were considerably under strength. □  They had been beaten by a below-strength side.

strength|en ◆◇◇ /stre ŋθ ^ə n/ (strengthens , strengthening , strengthened )

1 VERB If something strengthens a person or group or if they strengthen their position, they become more powerful and secure, or more likely to succeed. □ [V n] The new constitution strengthens the government. □ [V n] He hoped to strengthen the position of the sciences in the leading universities.

2 VERB If something strengthens a case or argument, it supports it by providing more reasons or evidence for it. □ [V n] He does not seem to be familiar with research which might have strengthened his own arguments.

3 VERB If a currency, economy, or industry strengthens , or if something strengthens it, it increases in value or becomes more successful. □ [V ] The dollar strengthened against most other currencies. □ [V n] The Government should start by strengthening the economy.

4 VERB If a government strengthens laws or measures or if they strengthen , they are made more severe. □ [V n] I am also looking urgently at how we can strengthen the law. □ [V n] Community leaders want to strengthen controls at external frontiers. □ [V ] Because of the war, security procedures have strengthened.

5 VERB If something strengthens you or strengthens your resolve or character, it makes you more confident and determined. □ [V n] Any experience can teach and strengthen you, but particularly the more difficult ones. □ [V n] This merely strengthens our resolve to win the league.

6 VERB If something strengthens a relationship or link, or if a relationship or link strengthens , it makes it closer and more likely to last for a long time. □ [V n] His visit is intended to strengthen ties between the two countries. □ [V ] In a strange way, his affair caused our relationship to strengthen.