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.

   Antonyms: shrink, shorten

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 by out ):

   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: shrink, shorten

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: compass, reach, range

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

/ strɛtʃ /

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. often foll byout, forward, etc to reach or hold (out); extend
7. intrusually foll byover 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. troften foll byout 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.
    to hang or be hanged by the neck
16. stretch a point
    1. to make a concession or exception not usually made
    2. to exaggerate
17. stretch one's legs
    to take a walk, esp after a period of inactivity

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
4. 1. capacity for being stretched, as in some garments
   2. ( as modifier )

      stretch pants

5. horse racing the section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line
6. slang.
   a term of imprisonment
7. at a stretch
   1. with some difficulty; by making a special effort
   2. if really necessary or in extreme circumstances
   3. at one time

Derived Forms

• ˈstretchable, adjective
• ˌstretchaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• 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

Word 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 stræc “firm, hard,” Middle Dutch strac “stiff.” See stare, stark

Word History and Origins

Origin of stretch¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

• at a stretch
• by any stretch

Synonym Study

See lengthen.

Example Sentences

Paul said she was worried the healthcare system is too stretched to ensure protection for vulnerable people.

From BBC

No. The Las Vegas standoff is not tied to strikes at Los Angeles hotels that began last year and stretched into this year.

From Los Angeles Times

Alfred Hitchcock kept these stories down to a couple of hours, and I do believe that given the opportunity to stretch out over several episodes, he’d have stuck to two.

From Los Angeles Times

Through one four-game stretch, starting with his single half against Michigan, Paige allowed 15 pressures, the most of any Power Four linemen in the same span.

From Los Angeles Times

If Russia could bring Chad into its orbit, that would create an uninterrupted sphere of influence stretching thousands of miles.

From BBC

Related Words

• area
• bridge
• distance
• length
• radius
• region
• span
• sweep
• tract