stricture

[ strik-cher ]

noun

1. a remark or comment, especially an adverse criticism:

   The reviewer made several strictures upon the author's style.

2. an abnormal contraction of any passage or duct of the body.
3. Phonetics. a constriction of airflow in the vocal tract in the production of speech.
4. a restriction.
5. Archaic. the act of enclosing or binding tightly.
6. Obsolete. strictness.

stricture

/ ˈstrɪktʃə /

noun

1. a severe criticism; censure
2. pathol an abnormal constriction of a tubular organ, structure, or part
3. obsolete.
   severity

Derived Forms

• ˈstrictured, adjective

Other Words From

• strictured adjective
• non·strictured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stricture¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin strictūra tightening, equivalent to Latin strict ( us ) ( strict ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of stricture¹

C14: from Latin strictūra contraction; see strict

Example Sentences

When they play with technical strictures, they also feel the music suffers.

From Nautilus

So she hasn’t spoken about her conservatorship or about the strictures under which she is living for 13 years.

From Vox

It also gives individual viewers — rather than Disney, with its many corporate obligations and strictures on what is and isn’t family-friendly — the agency to determine who we cheer for and identify with, and what version of the narrative we accept.

From Vox

As the days turn into weeks turn into months, the strictures become harder to tolerate.

From No Straight News

Assisted living facilities emerged as a third way, rejecting the clinical strictures of a medical institution in favor of a more informal, dormlike setting.

From ProPublica

In both cases, one of the frequent complications can be the stricture of the urethra.

From The Daily Beast

The principal stricture passed on the virtuoso was that he played too softly, or, rather, too delicately.

From Project Gutenberg

The common sequence is stricture of the gullet, combined with feeble digestion, and in a few instances stricture of the pylorus.

From Project Gutenberg

The gullet is most affected at its lower part, and it is this part which is mostly subject to stricture.

From Project Gutenberg

The first recorded operation for external urethrotomy for the relief of stricture is mentioned in Wiseman's writings.

From Project Gutenberg

Rec′toscope, a speculum for rectal examination; Rectot′omy, the operation for dividing a rectal stricture.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• restraint