stretch

[strech]
verb (used with object)
1.
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.
2.
to hold out, reach forth, or extend (one's arm, head, etc.).
3.
to extend, spread, or place (something) so as to reach from one point or place to another: to stretch a rope across a road.
4.
to draw tight or taut: to stretch the strings of a violin.
5.
to lengthen, widen, distend, or enlarge by tension: to stretch a rubber band.
6.
to draw out, extend, or enlarge unduly: The jacket was stretched at the elbows.
7.
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.
8.
to extend or strain (oneself) to the utmost, as by intense exertion; tax.
9.
to increase the quantity of (a beverage, food, paint, etc.) by dilution or admixing: They caught the bartender stretching the gin with water.
10.
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)
11.
to recline at full length (usually followed by out ): to stretch out on a couch.
12.
to extend the hand or to reach, as for something.
13.
to extend over a distance or area or in a particular direction: The forest stretches for miles.
14.
to extend in time: His memory stretches back to his early childhood.
15.
to stretch oneself by extending the limbs and lengthening the muscles to the utmost: to stretch and yawn.
16.
to become stretched, or admit of being stretched, to greater length, width, etc., as any elastic or ductile material.
17.
Radio and Television. to reduce the pace or slow down the action of a radio or television program.
00:10
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to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
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noun
18.
an act or instance of stretching.
19.
the state of being stretched.
20.
a continuous length, distance, tract, or expanse: a stretch of meadow.
21.
Horse Racing. the backstretch or homestretch of a racetrack.
22.
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.
23.
an extent in time; duration: for a stretch of ten years.
24.
elasticity or capacity for extension.
25.
Slang. a term of imprisonment: He's doing a stretch in the pen.
26.
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.
27.
( initial capital letter ) a nickname for a tall, lanky person.
adjective
28.
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.
29.
(of yarn) modified or twisted so as to afford high elasticity.
30.
Also, stretched. of or pertaining 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:
before 900; Middle English strecchen (v.), Old English streccan; cognate with Dutch strekken, German strecken; akin to Old English stræc firm, hard, Middle Dutch strac stiff. See stare, stark

Related forms
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

Synonyms
5. See lengthen. 11. lie down. 20. range, reach, compass.

Antonyms
5, 16. shorten, shrink.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
stretch (strɛtʃ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb (often foll by out, forward, etc) (usually foll by over) (often foll by out)
1.  to draw out or extend or be drawn out or extended in length, area, etc
2.  to extend or be extended to an undue degree, esp so as to distort or lengthen permanently
3.  to extend (the limbs, body, etc)
4.  (tr) to reach or suspend (a rope, etc) from one place to another
5.  (tr) to draw tight; tighten
6.  to reach or hold (out); extend
7.  to extend in time: the course stretched over three months
8.  (intr; foll by for, over, etc) (of a region, etc) to extend in length or area
9.  (intr) (esp of a garment) to be capable of expanding, as to a larger size: socks that will stretch
10.  (tr) to put a great strain upon or extend to the limit
11.  to injure (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc) by means of a strain or sprain
12.  to make do with (limited resources): to stretch one's budget
13.  informal (tr) to expand or elaborate (a story, etc) beyond what is credible or acceptable: that's stretching it a bit
14.  (tr; often passive) to extend, as to the limit of one's abilities or talents
15.  archaic, slang or to hang or be hanged by the neck
16.  stretch a point
 a.  to make a concession or exception not usually made
 b.  to exaggerate
17.  stretch one's legs to take a walk, esp after a period of inactivity
 
—n
18.  the act of stretching or state of being stretched
19.  a large or continuous expanse or distance: a stretch of water
20.  extent in time, length, area, etc
21.  a.  capacity for being stretched, as in some garments
 b.  (as modifier): stretch pants
22.  horse racing the section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line
23.  slang a term of imprisonment
24.  chiefly (Brit) at a stretch
 a.  with some difficulty; by making a special effort
 b.  if really necessary or in extreme circumstances
 c.  at one time
 
[Old English streccan; related to Old Frisian strekka, Old High German strecken; see straight, strake]
 
'stretchable
 
—adj
 
stretcha'bility
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

stretch
O.E. streccan, from P.Gmc. *strakjanan (cf. Dan. strække, Swed. sträcka, O.Fris. strekka, O.H.G. strecchan, M.L.G., M.Du., O.H.G., Ger. strecken "to stretch"), perhaps a variant of the root of stark, or else from PIE base *strenk- "tight, narrow; pull tight, twist"
(see strain). Meaning "to extend (the limbs or wings)" is from c.1200; that of "to lay out for burial" is from early 13c. To stretch one's legs "take a walk" is from c.1600. Meaning "to lengthen by force" first recorded late 14c.; figurative sense of "to enlarge beyond proper limits, exaggerate," is from 1553. Stretch limo first attested 1973. Stretch marks is attested from 1960. Stretcher "canvas frame for carrying the sick or wounded" is first attested 1845.

stretch
1540s, "act of stretching," from stretch (v.); meaning "unbroken continuance of some activity" is first recorded 1680s; meaning "straightaway of a race course" (e.g. home stretch) is recorded from 1841.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary

stretch definition


  1. n.
    a period of time. (Folksy.) : Let's talk here for a stretch and then go up and see if dinner's ready.
  2. n.
    a prison term. : I was away for a stretch of about seven years.
  3. in.
    to hang (as with a death sentence). : You will stretch for this, Lefty!
  4. tv.
    to cut or dilute a drug. : Let's stretch this stuff, sell it, and then blow town.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

stretch

In addition to the idioms beginning with stretch, also see at a stretch; by any stretch.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
After a period of keeping the knee still, you should do exercises to strengthen and stretch the knee.
They also pay more in interest because defaults stretch out the loan-repayment
  period.
If required, get a thin object or blade to stretch the plastic pieces so it
  clicks on evenly.
Stretch out on a lawn chaise lounge or a sleeping bag for a good peripheral
  view of the sky.
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