stretch
[ strech ]
/ strɛtʃ /
verb (used with object)
to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often followed by out): to stretch oneself out on the ground.
to hold out, reach forth, or extend (one's arm, head, etc.).
to extend, spread, or place (something) so as to reach from one point or place to another: to stretch a rope across a road.
to draw tight or taut: to stretch the strings of a violin.
to lengthen, widen, distend, or enlarge by tension: to stretch a rubber band.
to draw out, extend, or enlarge unduly: The jacket was stretched at the elbows.
to extend, force, or make serve beyond the normal or proper limits; strain: to stretch the imagination; to stretch the facts; to stretch food to feed extra guests; to stretch money to keep within a budget.
to extend or strain (oneself) to the utmost, as by intense exertion; tax.
to increase the quantity of (a beverage, food, paint, etc.) by dilution or admixing: They caught the bartender stretching the gin with water.
Radio and Television.
to prolong or slow down (action or pace) in order not to end too early: to stretch a show; to stretch the action two minutes.
verb (used without object)
to recline at full length (usually followed by out): to stretch out on a couch.
to extend the hand or to reach, as for something.
to extend over a distance or area or in a particular direction: The forest stretches for miles.
to extend in time: His memory stretches back to his early childhood.
to stretch oneself by extending the limbs and lengthening the muscles to the utmost: to stretch and yawn.
to become stretched, or admit of being stretched, to greater length, width, etc., as any elastic or ductile material.
Radio and Television.
to reduce the pace or slow down the action of a radio or television program.
noun
an act or instance of stretching.
the state of being stretched.
a continuous length, distance, tract, or expanse: a stretch of meadow.
Horse Racing.
the backstretch or homestretch of a racetrack.
Baseball.
a short windup, usually used to keep base runners from taking too long a lead, in which the pitcher starts the pitching motion with hands together at the waist, raises them to or above the head, brings them back to the waist, and, after a momentary pause, delivers the ball.
an extent in time; duration: for a stretch of ten years.
elasticity or capacity for extension.
Slang.
a term of imprisonment: He's doing a stretch in the pen.
the act or fact of stretching or extending something beyond reasonable or proper limits: You wouldn't call her a genius by any stretch of the imagination. It's quite a stretch for me to believe his story.
(initial capital letter)
a nickname for a tall, lanky person.
adjective
made of synthetic or composite yarn having a sufficiently low denier or having been subjected to any of several special mechanical treatments to permit increased elasticity: stretch girdle; stretch pants.
(of yarn) modified or twisted so as to afford high elasticity.
Also stretched.
of or relating to a conveyance, as a limousine or airliner, whose seating area is expanded to carry more passengers or afford greater legroom and to allow space for other comforts and amenities.
Origin of stretch
SYNONYMS FOR stretch
OTHER WORDS FROM stretch
stretch·a·ble, adjective
stretch·a·bil·i·ty, noun
non·stretch·a·ble, adjective
pre·stretch, verb (used with object), noun
un·stretch·a·ble, adjective
un·stretched, adjective
well-stretched, adjective
Words nearby stretch
Example sentences from the Web for stretch
The plan is to stretch it out as long as possible, then probably forget about it, and then suddenly remember it.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS |Marlow Stern |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST“You need to stretch kids slightly outside their comfort zones, but never have surprises,” she said.
They started with Not Fade Away and went from one song to another over a 14 minute stretch.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs |Allen Barra |November 17, 2014 |DAILY BEASTWhile obviously not as cartoonish as the deluded leaders in The Office, du Pont seemed to stretch credulity at times.
His 130-day stretch withered his body down to 140 pounds—80 pounds lighter than when he departed from Africa.
Hour after hour like that, with ten minutes' rest now and then at a spring or to stretch our legs.
Romany of the Snows |Gilbert ParkerThe history of Shakespearean translation in Norway cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be called distinguished.
An Essay Toward a History of Shakespeare in Norway |Martin Brown RuudThe cloud of blessing floats over our heads, but we fail to stretch forth the electric rod of prayer to fetch it down!
The Hart and the Water-Brooks; |John R. MacduffMovements that tend to put the damaged ligaments on the stretch also cause pain.
Now stretch out in line, my merry ones, with arrow on string, and I shall show you such sport as only the King can give.
The White Company |Arthur Conan Doyle
British Dictionary definitions for stretch
stretch
/ (strɛtʃ) /
verb
to draw out or extend or be drawn out or extended in length, area, etc
to extend or be extended to an undue degree, esp so as to distort or lengthen permanently
to extend (the limbs, body, etc)
(tr)
to reach or suspend (a rope, etc) from one place to another
(tr)
to draw tight; tighten
(often foll by out, forward, etc)
to reach or hold (out); extend
(intr usually foll by over)
to extend in time
the course stretched over three months
(intr; foll by for, over, etc)
(of a region, etc) to extend in length or area
(intr)
(esp of a garment) to be capable of expanding, as to a larger size
socks that will stretch
(tr)
to put a great strain upon or extend to the limit
to injure (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc) by means of a strain or sprain
(tr often foll by out)
to make do with (limited resources)
to stretch one's budget
(tr) informal
to expand or elaborate (a story, etc) beyond what is credible or acceptable
that's stretching it a bit
(tr; often passive)
to extend, as to the limit of one's abilities or talents
archaic, or slang
to hang or be hanged by the neck
stretch a point
- to make a concession or exception not usually made
- to exaggerate
stretch one's legs
to take a walk, esp after a period of inactivity
noun
the act of stretching or state of being stretched
a large or continuous expanse or distance
a stretch of water
extent in time, length, area, etc
- capacity for being stretched, as in some garments
- (as modifier)stretch pants
horse racing
the section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line
slang
a term of imprisonment
at a stretch mainly British
- with some difficulty; by making a special effort
- if really necessary or in extreme circumstances
- at one time
Derived forms of stretch
stretchable, adjective stretchability, nounWord Origin for stretch
Old English
streccan; related to Old Frisian
strekka, Old High German
strecken; see
straight,
strake
Idioms and Phrases with stretch
stretch
In addition to the idioms beginning with stretch
- stretch a point
- stretch one's legs
also see:
- at a stretch
- by any stretch