Adjacent Words

Stretch definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

STRETCH, v.t. [L.]
1. To draw out to greater length; to extend in a line; as, to stretch a cord or a rope.
2. To extend in breadth; as, to stretch cloth.
3. To spread; to expand; as, to stretch the wings.
4. To reach; to extend.
Stretch thine hand to the poor.
5. To spread; to display; as, to stretch forth the heavens.
6. To draw or pull out in length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle.
7. To make tense; to strain.
So the stretchd cord the shackled dancer tries.
8. To extend mentally; as, to stretch the mind or thoughts.
9. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch ones credit.
STRETCH, v.i.
1. To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both. A wet hempen cord or cloth contracts; in drying, it stretches.
2. To be extended; to spread; as, a lake stretches over a hundred miles of earth. Lake Erie stretches from Niagara nearly to Huron. Hence,
3. To stretch to, is to reach.
4. To be extended or to bear extension without breaking, as elastic substances.
The inner membrane--because it would stretch and yield, remained unbroken.
5. To sally beyond the truth; to exaggerate. A man who is apt to stretch, has less credit than others.
6. In navigation, to sail; to direct a course. It is often understood to signify to sail under a great spread of canvas close hauled. In this it differs from stand, which implies no press of sail. We were standing to the east, when we saw a ship stretching to the southward.
7. To make violent efforts in running.
STRETCH, n.
1. Extension in length or in breadth; reach; as a great stretch of wings.
2. Effort; struggle; strain.
Those put lawful authority upon the stretch to the abuse of power, under color of prerogative.
3. Force of body; straining.
By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain.
4. Utmost extent of meaning.
Quotations, in their utmost stretch, can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind.
5. Utmost reach of power.
This is the utmost stretch that nature can.
6. In sailing, a tack; the reach or extent of progress on one tack.
7. Course; direction; as the stretch of seams of coal.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: having an elongated seating area; "a stretch limousine"
2: easily stretched; "stretch hosiery" n
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 out [syn: reach, reaching, stretch]
3: a straightaway section of a racetrack
4: exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent [syn: stretch, 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" [syn: stretch, stint]
7: the capacity for being stretched [syn: stretch, stretchiness, stretchability] v
1: occupy a large, elongated area; "The park stretched beneath the train line" [syn: stretch, stretch along]
2: extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body; "Stretch your legs!"; "Extend your right arm above your head" [syn: stretch, 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" [syn: unfold, stretch, stretch out, extend]
4: become longer by being stretched and pulled; "The fabric stretches" [ant: contract, shrink]
5: make long or longer by pulling and stretching; "stretch the fabric" [syn: elongate, stretch]
6: lie down comfortably; "To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass" [syn: stretch, 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" [syn: load, adulterate, stretch, dilute, debase]
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" [syn: extend, stretch]
11: extend one's body or limbs; "Let's stretch for a minute-- we've been sitting here for over 3 hours" [syn: stretch, stretch out]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English strecchen, from Old English streccan; akin to Old High German strecchan to stretch, Old English stræc firm, severe Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to extend (as one's limbs or body) in a reclining position 2. to reach out ; extend <stretched out her arms> 3. to extend in length <stretched his neck to see what was going on> 4. to fell with or as if with a blow 5. to cause the limbs of (a person) to be pulled especially in torture 6. to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position 7. to pull taut <canvas stretched on a frame> 8. a. to enlarge or distend especially by force b. to extend or expand as if by physical force <stretch one's mind with a good book> c. strain <stretched his already thin patience> 9. to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space) <stretch a wire between two posts> 10. a. to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits <the rules can be stretched this once> b. to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function <stretching a dollar> 11. to extend (a hit) to an extra base usually by fast or daring running <stretch a single into a double> intransitive verb 1. a. to become extended in length or breadth or both ; spread <broad plains stretching to the sea> b. to extend over a continuous period <the dynasty stretches back several centuries> 2. to become extended without breaking 3. a. to extend one's body or limbs <stretched before jogging> <wanted to stretch out on the sofa> b. to lie down at full length • stretchability noun • stretchable adjective • stretchy adjective II. noun Date: 1541 1. a. an exercise of something (as the understanding or the imagination) beyond ordinary or normal limits <their conclusion seemed like a bit of a stretch> b. an extension of the scope or application of something <a stretch of language> 2. the extent to which something may be stretched 3. a. the act of stretching ; the state of being stretched <a good stretch for legs> b. the position of a pitcher standing sideways to home plate so as to keep a runner close to a base <pitching from the stretch> 4. a. an extent in length or area <an open stretch of road> b. a continuous period of time <can write for eight hours at a stretch> 5. a walk to relieve fatigue 6. a term of imprisonment <served a 10-year stretch> 7. a. either of the straight sides of a racecourse; especially homestretch b. a final stage (as of a contest or season) <won some crucial games down the stretch> 8. the capacity for being stretched ; elasticity <a waistband with lots of stretch> 9. a stretch limousine III. adjective Date: 1954 1. easily stretched ; elastic <a stretch wig> 2. longer than the standard size <a stretch limousine>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr. draw or be drawn or admit of being drawn out into greater length or size. 2 tr. & intr. make or become taut. 3 tr. & intr. place or lie at full length or spread out (with a canopy stretched over them). 4 tr. (also absol.) a extend (an arm, leg, etc.). b (often refl.) thrust out one's limbs and tighten one's muscles after being relaxed. 5 intr. have a specified length or extension; extend (farmland stretches for many miles). 6 tr. strain or exert extremely or excessively; exaggerate (stretch the truth). 7 intr. (as stretched adj.) lying at full length. --n. 1 a continuous extent or expanse or period (a stretch of open road). 2 the act or an instance of stretching; the state of being stretched. 3 (attrib.) able to stretch; elastic (stretch fabric). 4 a colloq. a period of imprisonment. b a period of service. 5 US the straight side of a racetrack. 6 Naut. the distance covered on one tack. Phrases and idioms: at full stretch working to capacity. at a stretch 1 in one continuous period (slept for two hours at a stretch). 2 with much effort. stretch one's legs exercise oneself by walking. stretch marks marks on the skin resulting from a gain of weight, or on the abdomen after pregnancy. stretch out 1 tr. extend (a hand or foot etc.). 2 intr. & tr. last for a longer period; prolong. 3 tr. make (money etc.) last for a sufficient time. stretch a point agree to something not normally allowed. stretch one's wings see WING. Derivatives: stretchable adj. stretchability n. stretchy adj. stretchiness n. Etymology: OE streccan f. WG: cf. STRAIGHT

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. As far as stretcheth any ground. --Gower. 2. To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs; as, the lazy man yawns and stretches. 3. To be extended, or to bear extension, without breaking, as elastic or ductile substances. The inner membrane . . . because it would stretch and yield, remained umbroken. --Boyle. 4. To strain the truth; to exaggerate; as, a man apt to stretch in his report of facts. [Obs. or Colloq.] 5. (Naut.) To sail by the wind under press of canvas; as, the ship stretched to the eastward. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. Stretch out, an order to rowers to extend themselves forward in dipping the oar.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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["a]cka, Dan. str[ae]kke; cf. AS. str[ae]ck, 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. And stretch forth his neck long and small. --Chaucer. I in conquest stretched mine arm. --Shak. 2. To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope. 3. To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings. 4. To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly. The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain. --Shak. 5. To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle. Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve. --Doddridge. 6. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit. They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative. --Burke.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain. --Dryden. Those put a lawful authority upon the stretch, to the abuse of yower, under the color of prerogative. --L'Estrange. 2. A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land. A great stretch of cultivated country. --W. Black. But all of them left me a week at a stretch. --E. Eggleston. 3. The extent to which anything may be stretched. Quotations, in their utmost stretch, can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind. --Atterbury. This is the utmost stretch that nature can. --Granville. 4. (Naut.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board. 5. Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal. To be on the stretch, to be obliged to use one's utmost powers. Home stretch. See under Home, a.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(stretches, stretching, stretched) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Something that stretches over an area or distance covers or exists in the whole of that area or distance. The procession stretched for several miles... ...an artificial reef stretching the length of the coast. = extend VERB: no cont, V prep/adv, V n 2. A stretch of road, water, or land is a length or area of it. It's a very dangerous stretch of road... N-COUNT: usu N of n 3. When you stretch, you put your arms or legs out straight and tighten your muscles. He yawned and stretched... Try stretching your legs and pulling your toes upwards... She arched her back and stretched herself. VERB: V, V n, V n • Stretch is also a noun. At the end of a workout spend time cooling down with some slow stretches. N-COUNT • stretching Make sure no awkward stretching is required. N-UNCOUNT 4. A stretch of time is a period of time. ...after an 18-month stretch in the army... He would study for eight to ten hours at a stretch. N-COUNT: oft N of n 5. If something stretches from one time to another, it begins at the first time and ends at the second, which is longer than expected. ...a working day that stretches from seven in the morning to eight at night. VERB: V from n to n 6. If a group of things stretch from one type of thing to another, the group includes a wide range of things. ...a trading empire, with interests that stretched from chemicals to sugar. = range VERB: V from n to n 7. When something soft or elastic stretches or is stretched, it becomes longer or bigger as well as thinner, usually because it is pulled. The cables are designed not to stretch... Ease the pastry into the corners of the tin, making sure you don't stretch it. VERB: V, V n 8. Stretch fabric is soft and elastic and stretches easily. ...stretch fabrics such as Lycra. ...stretch cotton swimsuits. ADJ: ADJ n 9. If you stretch an amount of something or if it stretches, you make it last longer than it usually would by being careful and not wasting any of it. They're used to stretching their budgets... During his senior year his earnings stretched far enough to buy an old car. VERB: V n, V 10. If your resources can stretch to something, you can just afford to do it. She suggested to me that I might like to start regular savings and I said Well, I don't know whether I can stretch to that. VERB: no cont, V to n 11. If something stretches your money or resources, it uses them up so you have hardly enough for your needs. The drought there is stretching American resources... Public expenditure was being stretched to the limit by having to support 3 million unemployed people. VERB: V n, be V-ed prep/adv 12. If you say that a job or task stretches you, you mean that you like it because it makes you work hard and use all your energy and skills so that you do not become bored or achieve less than you should. I'm trying to move on and stretch myself with something different... They criticised the quality of teaching, claiming pupils were not stretched enough. = push VERB: V pron-refl, V n [approval] 13. If you are at full stretch, you are using the maximum amount of effort or energy. Everyone would be working at full stretch. PHRASE: PHR after v 14. If you say that something is not true or possible by any stretch of the imagination, you are emphasizing that it is completely untrue or absolutely impossible. Her husband was not a womaniser by any stretch of the imagination... PHRASE [emphasis] 15. If you stretch your legs, you go for a short walk, usually after you have been sitting down for a long time. I stopped at the square and got out to stretch my legs. PHRASE: V inflects

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Strain, tighten, make tense. 2. Extend, lengthen, elongate, draw out. 3. Reach, stretch forth, hold out, extend, put forth. 4. Spread, expand, unfold, display. 5. Strain, sprain. 6. Exaggerate, extend too far, strain. II. v. n. Extend, reach, be drawn out. III. n. 1. Extent, extension, reach, compass, range. 2. Effort, struggle, strain, exertion. 3. Course, direction.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A yard. The cove was lagged for prigging a peter with several stretch of dobbin from a drag; the fellow was transported for stealing a trunk, containing several yards of ribband, from a waggon.

Moby Thesaurus

adaptability, adaptable, adaptive, add to, aesthetic distance, aggrandize, airing, amble, amplify, amplitude, and quarter, answer, archery ground, area, athletic field, athletics, augment, avail, badminton court, balloon, ballyhoo, baseball field, basketball court, be equal to, be lengthy, be prolonged, bear, belong, bend, billiard parlor, bit, bloat, bloating, blow up, bounce, bounciness, bouncy, bowling alley, bowling green, breadth, break, breaking point, breather, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, buoyance, buoyancy, buoyant, burlesque, calisthenics, caricature, carry, carry too far, clearance, compass, constitutional, continue, continuous tenure, course, court, cover, crane, crescendo, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, daily dozen, day, deep space, depths of space, develop, diamond, diapason, dilate, dimensions, distance, distend, distension, distort, divergence, do, do it, drag out, draw, draw out, draw the longbow, drill, elastic, elasticity, elongate, elongation, embellish, encompass, enlarge, enlistment, environ, exaggerate, exercise, exercising, expand, expanse, expansion, extend, extend out, extensibility, extensile, extension, extent, extreme tension, fairway, farness, fateful moment, field, fill out, fill the bill, fit, flexibility, flexible, flexile, football field, forced march, fudge, fulfill, gamut, get by, gibbet, give, glaciarium, go, go around, go out, go to extremes, golf course, golf links, greaten, gridiron, gym, gymnasium, gymnastic exercises, gymnastics, hack it, hang, haul, heave, hike, hike up, hitch, hold, hour, hyperbolize, ice rink, increase, infield, infinity, inflate, inflation, instant, interval, isometrics, jaunt, juncture, just do, kairos, lay it on, leeway, length, lengthen, lengthen out, lengthening, lengthiness, let out, lie, light-years, linear measures, links, liveliness, lively, long time, longitude, longness, lynch, magnify, make, make much of, make the grade, march, margin, measure, meet, meet requirements, mileage, minute, moment, moment of truth, mush, neck, noose, orbit, outfield, outreach, outstretch, oval, overall length, overcharge, overdevelop, overdistend, overdistension, overdo, overdraw, overdrawing, overestimate, overexert, overexertion, overexpand, overexpansion, overextend, overextension, overpaint, overpraise, overreach, overreact, oversell, overspeak, overstate, overstrain, overstraining, overstress, overstretch, overstretching, overtax, overtaxing, pad, parade, parsecs, pass, pass muster, period, peripatetic journey, peripateticism, perpetuity, perspective, physical education, physical jerks, piece, pile it on, playground, playing field, playroom, point, polo ground, pool hall, poolroom, practice, pregnant moment, press, prison term, produce, production, prolong, prolongate, prolongation, promenade, protract, protraction, psychological moment, puff, puff up, pull, pull out, pump, pump up, purview, putting green, qualify, racecourse, rack, racket court, radius, raise, ramble, range, rarefy, reach, reach out, rebound, region, register, remoteness, resilience, resiliency, resilient, responsive, responsiveness, rink, roll, run, satisfy, saunter, scale, schlep, scop, scope, scrag, season, section, separation, serve, serve the purpose, setting-up exercises, skating rink, snap, snapping point, snowball, soccer field, space, span, spectrum, spell, spin out, sprawl, spread, spring, springiness, springy, squash court, stage, stand, stand on tiptoes, stand up, stint, straddle, straggle, strain, strain every nerve, straining, stress, stress and strain, stressfulness, stretch out, stretch the truth, stretchability, stretchable, stretchiness, stretching, stretchy, stride, string out, string up, stringing out, stroll, suffice, sufflate, supple, surround, sweat blood, sweep, swell, swelling, take in, take it, talk big, talk in superlatives, tauten, tax, taxing, tennis court, tense, tension, tenure, term, thrust out, tighten, time, time lag, tone, tonicity, tonus, tour, tour of duty, tout, track, tract, traipse, tramp, travesty, trudge, tug, tumefy, turf, turn, up, walk, walking tour, warp, way, ways, whet, while, whippy, widen, work, workout, yardage, yoga