Strict (?), a. [Compar. Stricter (?); superl. Strictest.] [L. strictus, p. p. of stringere to draw or bind tight, to strain. See Strain, and cf. Strait, a.] 1. Strained; drawn close; tight; as, a strict embrace; a strict ligature. Dryden.

2. Tense; not relaxed; as, a strict fiber.

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict watch; to pay strict attention. Shak.

It shall be still in strictest measure.

4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous; as, very strict in observing the Sabbath. "Through the strict senteries." Milton.

5. Rigidly; interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted; as, to understand words in a strict sense.

6. (Bot.) Upright, or straight and narrow; -- said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.

Syn. -- Exact; accurate; nice; close; rigorous; severe. -- Strict, Severe. Strict, applied to a person, denotes that he conforms in his motives and acts to a principle or code by which he is bound; severe is strict with an implication often, but not always, of harshness. Strict is opposed to lax; severe is opposed to gentle.

And rules as strict his labored work confine,
As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line.

Soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve: -
"What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe!"

Strict (?), a. [Compar. Stricter (?); superl. Strictest.] [L. strictus, p. p. of stringere to draw or bind tight, to strain. See Strain, and cf. Strait, a.] 1. Strained; drawn close; tight; as, a strict embrace; a strict ligature. Dryden.

2. Tense; not relaxed; as, a strict fiber.

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict watch; to pay strict attention. Shak.

It shall be still in strictest measure.

4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous; as, very strict in observing the Sabbath. "Through the strict senteries." Milton.

5. Rigidly; interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted; as, to understand words in a strict sense.

6. (Bot.) Upright, or straight and narrow; -- said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.

Syn. -- Exact; accurate; nice; close; rigorous; severe. -- Strict, Severe. Strict, applied to a person, denotes that he conforms in his motives and acts to a principle or code by which he is bound; severe is strict with an implication often, but not always, of harshness. Strict is opposed to lax; severe is opposed to gentle.

And rules as strict his labored work confine,
As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line.

Soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve: -
"What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe!"

• Strained; drawn close; tight; as, a strict embrace; a strict ligature.
  
• Tense; not relaxed; as, a strict fiber.
  
• Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict watch; to pay strict attention.
  
• Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous; as, very strict in observing the Sabbath.
  
• Rigidly; interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted; as, to understand words in a strict sense.
  
• Upright, or straight and narrow; -- said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.