straits
Channels between seas
Straits names a narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies: the Strait of Gibraltar, the Straits of Mackinac.
The plural often appears even for a single passage.
Figuratively, straits means a difficult situation, almost always modified: dire straits, desperate straits, in financial straits.
The singular strait appears mainly in the geographic sense or the adjective meaning narrow or strict, now rare outside straitjacket and straitlaced.
Passage for transmission
- narrowsConstricted water passage
- passageSegment of text
- soundAudible wave phenomenon
- inletWater extending into land
fjord · shipping · navigation · seafaring · vessels · fleet · cargo · port
Extremely serious or urgent
- desperateDriven by urgent need
- difficultiesProblems to overcome
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
plight · distress · trouble · bind · quandary · adversity · struggle · circumstances
Strategic Middle Eastern strait
- TaiwanDisputed East Asian island-state
- GibraltarBritish overseas territory, Iberian
- BosphorusStrait linking two seas
- tensionsStates of strained relations
shipping · blockade · chokepoint · flashpoint · sanctions · standoff · diplomacy · territorial
channel
Passage for transmission
inlet · fjord · shipping · navigation · seafaring · vessels · fleet · cargo · port · harbor
dire
Extremely serious or urgent
- desperateDriven by urgent need
- difficultiesProblems to overcome
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
predicament · plight · distress · trouble · bind · quandary · adversity · struggle · circumstances · situation
Hormuz
Strategic Middle Eastern strait
- TaiwanDisputed East Asian island-state
- GibraltarBritish overseas territory, Iberian
- BosphorusStrait linking two seas
tensions · shipping · blockade · chokepoint · flashpoint · sanctions · standoff · diplomacy · territorial · sovereignty
- watersoceans, seas, Red Sea, lakes, Black Sea
- geographycontinents, continent, oceans, countries, country
- oceanwaves, Atlantic, sea, Pacific, tide
- US geographystates, capitals, state boundaries, state lines, regions
- bodies of waterocean, river, sea, lake, stream
- water bodiessea, lakes, lake, rivers, streams
straitsopen ocean
Sea far from shore
open sea · high seas · open water · ocean · gulf
straitsprosperity
Good fortune, success
abundance · comfort · ease · good fortune · blessings
- straight lineUndeviated continuous path
- straight aheadIn a line, unchanged direction
- go straightCease criminal activity
- straight faceNeutral, emotionless expression
- straight upUndiluted and unchilled
- straight hairLocks without curl or wave