51Թ

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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 byout ).

    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.

    Antonyms: ,
  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)

  1. to recline at full length (usually followed byout ).

    to stretch out on a couch.

  2. to extend the hand or to reach, as for something.

  3. to extend over a distance or area or in a particular direction.

    The forest stretches for miles.

  4. to extend in time.

    His memory stretches back to his early childhood.

  5. to stretch oneself by extending the limbs and lengthening the muscles to the utmost.

    to stretch and yawn.

  6. to become stretched, or admit of being stretched, to greater length, width, etc., as any elastic or ductile material.

    Antonyms: ,
  7. Radio and Television.to reduce the pace or slow down the action of a radio or television program.

noun

  1. an act or instance of stretching.

  2. the state of being stretched.

  3. a continuous length, distance, tract, or expanse.

    a stretch of meadow.

    Synonyms: , ,
  4. Horse Racing.the backstretch or homestretch of a racetrack.

  5. 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.

  6. an extent in time; duration.

    for a stretch of ten years.

  7. elasticity or capacity for extension.

  8. Slang.a term of imprisonment.

    He's doing a stretch in the pen.

  9. 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.

  10. (initial capital letter)a nickname for a tall, lanky person.

adjective

  1. 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.

  2. (of yarn) modified or twisted so as to afford high elasticity.

  3. 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.

stretch

/ ٰɛʃ /

verb

  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. archaicto hang or be hanged by the neck

    1. to make a concession or exception not usually made

    2. to exaggerate

  16. to take a walk, esp after a period of inactivity

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of stretching or state of being stretched

  2. a large or continuous expanse or distance

    a stretch of water

  3. extent in time, length, area, etc

    1. capacity for being stretched, as in some garments

    2. ( as modifier )

      stretch pants

  4. horse racing the section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line

  5. slanga term of imprisonment

    1. with some difficulty; by making a special effort

    2. if really necessary or in extreme circumstances

    3. at one time

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • stretchable adjective
  • stretchability noun
  • nonstretchable adjective
  • prestretch verb (used with object)
  • unstretchable adjective
  • unstretched adjective
  • well-stretched adjective
  • ˈٰٳ󲹲 adjective
  • ˌٰٳˈٲ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of stretch1

First recorded before 900; Middle English strecchen (verb), Old English streccan; cognate with Dutch strekken, German strecken; akin to Old English ٰæ “firm, hard,” Middle Dutch strac “stiff.” See stare, stark
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of stretch1

Old English streccan; related to Old Frisian strekka, Old High German strecken; see straight , strake
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Idioms and Phrases

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Guy Pepper's brilliant strength to shake off two tacklers and touch down in the corner almost stretched Bath's lead further only for the score to be scratched for a knock-on by Will Muir.

From

We also work on stretching and floor exercises.

From

The court battle has drawn on precedents that stretch back to the foundation of the country, offering starkly contrasting visions of federal authority and states’ rights.

From

Sensational from tee to green, he actually missed decent opportunities down the stretch to add to his 11 birdies over the first two rounds before that brilliant par save at the final hole.

From

It’s not uncommon to see lines of customers stretching the length of the counter as they wait for charred meats on a layer of crispy cheese and fresh blue corn tortillas.

From

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