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| stretch [ strech ] |
verb (past and past participle stretched, present participle stretch·ing, 3rd person present singular stretch·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb extend by force: to lengthen, widen, or extend something, or become lengthened, widened, or extended, especially by force
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2. intransitive verb expand and regain original shape: to be capable of expanding and returning to the original shape afterward
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3. transitive and intransitive verb extend excessively: to extend something excessively so that the shape is permanently altered, or be extended in this way
  The sleeves of this sweater have stretched.
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4. transitive and intransitive verb extend to full length: to straighten or extend the body or part of it, especially the limbs, to full length
She woke up, yawned, and stretched.
The cat lay stretched out by the fire.
stretched his arms
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5. transitive verb strain body part: to strain a part of the body such as a muscle
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6. transitive and intransitive verb tauten: to make something taut or tight, or become taut or tight
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7. transitive verb suspend something between two points: to suspend something, or make something reach, between two points
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8. intransitive verb extend in space: to spread out or extend over an area or in a particular direction
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9. transitive and intransitive verb extend over time: to last or continue over a period of time, or prolong something
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10. transitive verb make small amount go further: to make limited supplies or resources go further than usual, planned, or expected
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11. intransitive verb be enough: to be sufficient to allow something
Will the budget stretch to hiring a temporary assistant?
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12. transitive verb exceed limit or break rule: to exceed a limit or break a rule that would usually prohibit something
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13. transitive verb push something to limit: to strain or push something to the limit
You're stretching my patience.
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14. transitive verb push somebody to limit of ability: to cause somebody to make full use of his or her abilities or intellect, e.g. with challenging or demanding work
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15. transitive verb exaggerate something: to make something sound better or worse than it really is, especially in order to make it seem more impressive
(
informal
)
To call his house a mansion is stretching it a bit.
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16. transitive verb knock somebody down: to knock somebody down with a blow
(
informal
)
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noun (plural stretch·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. stretching exercise: the straightening and extending of a part of the body, e.g. as an exercise
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2. expanse: a large expanse of something, especially land or water
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3. period of time: an uninterrupted period of time
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4. crime prison term: a term of imprisonment
(
slang
)
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5. elasticity: the ability to expand and return to the original shape afterward
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6. difficult challenge: something that is difficult to achieve
(
informal
)
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7. sports straight part of racetrack: the straight part of a racetrack, especially the final section approaching the finishing line
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8. final stage: the final stage of an event, task, process, or period of time, especially one that has been difficult or challenging
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9. baseball position by pitcher: the position taken by a pitcher in order to hold a runner close to a base
He had so many base runners that he was pitching from the stretch all day.
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10. automotive long passenger car: a limousine that has an extended body
(
informal
)
hired a stretch for the prom
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. elastic: made of or being a material that has great elasticity
wore stretch pants for skiing
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2. extended to provide extra space: extended or enlarged in order to provide extra space, e.g. for additional seating
a stretch limousine
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| [ Old English streccan, probably < Germanic, "rigid"] |
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at a stretch
1. continuously
worked five hours at a stretch
2. with great difficulty or effort
could get there by six at a stretch
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at full stretch using all the energy or resources available
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