stretch

Noun · Verb · Adjective
Synonyms: reachreachingstretchingstintstretchinessstretchabilitystretch alongextendunfoldstretch outelongateload

WordNet 3.0

Noun (7)

  1. a large and unbroken expanse or distance“a stretch of highway”“a stretch of clear water”
  2. the act of physically reaching or thrusting outSynonyms: reachreaching
  3. a straightaway section of a racetrack
  4. exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extentSynonyms: stretching
  5. extension to or beyond the ordinary limit“running at full stretch”“by no stretch of the imagination”“beyond any stretch of his understanding”
  6. an unbroken period of time during which you do something“there were stretches of boredom”“he did a stretch in the federal penitentiary”Synonyms: stint
  7. the capacity for being stretchedSynonyms: stretchinessstretchability

Verb (11)

  1. occupy a large, elongated area“The park stretched beneath the train line”Synonyms: stretch along
  2. extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body“Stretch your legs!”“Extend your right arm above your head”Synonyms: extend
  3. extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length“Unfold the newspaper”“stretch out that piece of cloth”“extend the TV antenna”Synonyms: unfoldstretch outextend
  4. become longer by being stretched and pulled“The fabric stretches”
  5. make long or longer by pulling and stretching“stretch the fabric”Synonyms: elongate
  6. lie down comfortably“To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass”Synonyms: stretch out
  7. pull in opposite directions“During the Inquisition, the torturers would stretch their victims on a rack”
  8. extend the scope or meaning of; often unduly“Stretch the limits”“stretch my patience”“stretch the imagination”
  9. corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones“adulterate liquor”Synonyms: loadadulteratedilutedebase
  10. increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance“stretch the soup by adding some more cream”“extend the casserole with a little rice”Synonyms: extend
  11. extend one's body or limbs“Let's stretch for a minute--we've been sitting here for over 3 hours”Synonyms: stretch out

Adjective (2)

  1. having an elongated seating area“a stretch limousine”Synonyms: stretch(a)
  2. easily stretched“stretch hosiery”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Stretch \Stretch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stretched; p. pr. & vb. n. Stretching.] [OE. strecchen, AS. streccan; akin to D. strekken, G. strecken, OHG. strecchen, Sw. str[aum]cka, Dan. straekke; cf. AS. straeck, strec, strong, violent, G. strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E. strong. Cf. Straight.]

1.To reach out; to extend; to put forth. [1913 Webster]

And stretch forth his neck long and small.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]
I in conquest stretched mine arm.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope. [1913 Webster]

3.To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings. [1913 Webster]

4.To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly. [1913 Webster]

The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

5.To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle. [1913 Webster]

Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve.— Doddridge.[1913 Webster]

6.To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit. [1913 Webster]

They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative.— Burke.[1913 Webster]
Stretch \Stretch\, v. i.

1.To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both; to spread; to reach; as, the iron road stretches across the continent; the lake stretches over fifty square miles. [1913 Webster]

As far as stretcheth any ground.— Gower.[1913 Webster]

2.To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs; as, the lazy man yawns and stretches. [1913 Webster]

3.To be extended, or to bear extension, without breaking, as elastic or ductile substances. [1913 Webster]

The inner membrane . . . because it would stretch and yield, remained umbroken.— Boyle.[1913 Webster]

4.To strain the truth; to exaggerate; as, a man apt to stretch in his report of facts. [Obs. or Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

5.(Naut.) To sail by the wind under press of canvas; as, the ship stretched to the eastward. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. [1913 Webster]

Stretch out, an order to rowers to extend themselves forward in dipping the oar. [1913 Webster]

Stretch \Stretch\, n.

1.Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination. [1913 Webster]

By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
Those put a lawful authority upon the stretch, to the abuse of yower, under the color of prerogative.— L'Estrange.[1913 Webster]

2.A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land. [1913 Webster]

A great stretch of cultivated country.— W. Black.[1913 Webster]
But all of them left me a week at a stretch.— E. Eggleston.[1913 Webster]

3.The extent to which anything may be stretched. [1913 Webster]

Quotations, in their utmost stretch, can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind.— Atterbury.[1913 Webster]
This is the utmost stretch that nature can.— Granville.[1913 Webster]

4.(Naut.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board. [1913 Webster]

5.Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal. [1913 Webster]

To be on the stretch, to be obliged to use one's utmost powers.

Home stretch. See under Home, a. [1913 Webster]

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