demanding that people follow rules or behave well, allowing very little freedom or flexibility.
Our new maths teacher is very strict and checks every homework assignment carefully.
There are strict rules about wearing hard hats on the construction site.
✦ From Latin “strictus”, past participle of “stringere” meaning “to draw tight”.
limited to the exact, precise, or narrow meaning of something, without any broad or loose interpretation.
In the strict sense of the word, a tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable.
The experiment must be carried out under strict conditions of exactly 25 °C.
✦ Same Latin origin as the first sense, emphasizing the idea of tightness applied to meaning.
used to stress the exact or literal truth of something, often in the phrase “strictly speaking.”
Strictly speaking, Pluto is a dwarf planet, not a full planet.
Strictly speaking, whales are mammals, even though they live in the sea.
a part of a city or town that has a particular character or purpose, such as being mainly for shops, businesses, or homes
The city's historic district is full of old brick buildings and cafés.
We spent the afternoon shopping in the downtown district.
✦ From Latin districtus, past participle of distringere “to draw apart, compel,” later meaning a territory under jurisdiction.
to divide an area into official districts for administration, voting, or services
After the population grew, the state decided to district the new suburbs separately.
Lawmakers must district fairly to ensure equal representation.
✦ Verb use developed in the 19th century from the noun, meaning “to mark out into districts.”
to place a limit on the amount, size, or range of something so it does not go beyond a set point
The company decided to restrict internet access during work hours.
To lose weight, she restricts her sugar intake.
✦ From Latin ‘restringere’ meaning ‘to bind fast’ or ‘keep back’.
