hamstring

UK: /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/ US: /ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ/ ,(ham′string′)

Inflections of 'hamstring' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

hamstrings

v 3rd person singular

hamstringing

v pres p

hamstrung

v past

hamstrung

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ham•string /ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ/   n., v., -strung /-ˌstrʌŋ/  -string•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Anatomy, Zoology (in humans) a tendon behind the knee:
   pulled a hamstring and couldn't play ball.

v. [~ + object]

2. Pathology to disable by cutting the hamstring or hamstrings;
   cripple.
3. to make powerless;
   thwart:
   hamstrung by dozens of regulations.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ham•string  (ham′string′), n., v., -strung, -string•ing. 
n. 

1. Anatomy, Zoology (in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the ham of the knee.
2. Zoology (in quadrupeds) the great tendon at the back of the hock.

v.t. 

3. Pathology to disable by cutting the hamstring or hamstrings;
   cripple.
4. to render powerless or useless;
   thwart:
   Their efforts were hamstrung by stubborn pride.

• ham¹ + string 1555–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hamstring / ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ/ noun

1. any of the tendons at the back of the knee

verb ( -strings, -stringing, -strung)(transitive)

1. to cripple by cutting the hamstring of
2. to ruin or thwart

Etymology: 16th Century: ham¹ + string