straiten v : squeeze together

English

Verb

1. misspelling of straighten
2. To squeeze something together to make it narrow, or to confine it in a smaller space

   The channel straitened the river through the town, made it flow faster, and caused more flooding upstream.

3. To restrict, especially financially.

   Rising costs put those on fixed incomes in straitened circumstances.

Usage notes

To "straighten the river channel" means to remove the bends and curves, but not necessarily to narrow it. To "straiten the river channel" means to make it narrow, but not necessarily to make it straight. The same construction project could have both effects.

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