Verb: constrain kun'streyn
- Compel to behave in a certain way
"duty constrains one to act often contrary to one's desires or inclinations";
- enforce, impose
- To close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement
"This constrains the local until the express passengers change trains";
- restrain, confine, hold
- (of laws or regulations) make more restrictive, or impose greater penalties
"The new legislation constrained banking practices";
- stiffen, tighten, tighten up
Derived forms: constrained, constraining, constrains
Type of: bound, compel, confine, disable, disenable [archaic], incapacitate, limit, obligate, oblige, restrict, throttle, trammel
Encyclopedia: Constrain