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.
Radioand 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.
Radioand 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
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
SYNONYMS FOR stretch
11 lie down.
20 range, reach, compass.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR stretch ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR stretch
5, 16 shorten, shrink.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR stretch ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for stretch
5. See lengthen.
OTHER WORDS FROM stretch
stretch·a·ble,adjectivestretch·a·bil·i·ty,nounnon·stretch·a·ble,adjectivepre·stretch,verb (used with object),noun
Graham is being far outspent by Harrison, who has raised a stunning $29 million and has about $10 million for the final stretch.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Now, the season starts around May and routinely extends to November—sometimes even stretching to December.
West Coast wildfire smoke is visible from outer space|María Paula Rubiano A.|September 16, 2020|Popular Science
If it’s fairly straight, hamstring stretches are going to give you the best benefit.
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement|Sara Chodosh|September 16, 2020|Popular Science
Democratic leaders stand by that proposal to bring back the weekly $600 enhanced unemployment benefit—which stretched from late March to late July.
The federal $300 unemployment benefit is set to expire. Will there be a replacement?|Lance Lambert|September 14, 2020|Fortune
Some of the Nats’ stretch-run problems aren’t fixable, either.
The Nationals Are Running Out Of Time|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
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.
The Most Inspiring Bits of Temple Grandin’s Reddit AMA|Emily Shire|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 BEAST
While obviously not as cartoonish as the deluded leaders in The Office, du Pont seemed to stretch credulity at times.
Channing Tatum Is the Real Star of ‘Foxcatcher'|Nico Hines|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His 130-day stretch withered his body down to 140 pounds—80 pounds lighter than when he departed from Africa.
Victor Mooney’s Epic Adventure for His Dead Brother|Justin Jones|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 Parker
The 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 Ruud
The 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. Macduff
Movements that tend to put the damaged ligaments on the stretch also cause pain.
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition.|Alexander Miles
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 timethe 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 sizesocks 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)informalto expand or elaborate (a story, etc) beyond what is credible or acceptablethat's stretching it a bit
(tr; often passive)to extend, as to the limit of one's abilities or talents
archaic, orslangto hang or be hanged by the neck
stretch a point
to make a concession or exception not usually made
to exaggerate
stretch one's legsto 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 distancea stretch of water
extent in time, length, area, etc
capacity for being stretched, as in some garments
(as modifier)stretch pants
horse racingthe section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line
slanga term of imprisonment
at a stretchmainlyBritish
with some difficulty; by making a special effort
if really necessary or in extreme circumstances
at one time
Derived forms of stretch
stretchable, adjectivestretchability, noun
Word Origin for stretch
Old English streccan; related to Old Frisian strekka, Old High German strecken; see straight, strake