stretch

Pronunciation: /strɛtʃ/

Definition of stretch

[no object]

1(of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking:my jumper stretched in the wash rubber will stretch easily when pulled
[with object] cause (something) to become longer or wider by pulling it:stretch the elastic small squares of canvas were stretched over the bamboo frame

2straighten or extend one’s body or a part of one’s body to its full length, typically so as to tighten one’s muscles or in order to reach something:the cat yawned and stretched [with object]:I stretched out a weary arm to turn on my radio stretching my cramped legs we lay stretched out on the sand

3 [no object, with adverbial] extend or spread over an area or period of time:the beach stretches for over four miles the long hours of night stretched ahead of her
last or cause to last longer than expected: [no object]:her nap had stretched to two hours [with object]:stretch your weekend into a mini summer vacation
[no object] (of finances or resources) be sufficient or adequate for a certain purpose:my budget won’t stretch to a weekend at a health farm

4 [with object] make great demands on the capacity or resources of:the cost of the court case has stretched their finances to the limit
cause (someone) to make maximum use of their talents or abilities:it’s too easy—it doesn’t stretch me
informal adapt or extend the scope of (something) in a way that exceeds a reasonable or acceptable limit:to describe her as sweet would be stretching it a bit

1an act of stretching one’s limbs or body:I got up and had a stretch
[mass noun] the fact or condition of a muscle being stretched: she could feel the stretch and pull of the muscles in her legs
[mass noun, usually as modifier] the capacity of a material or garment to stretch or be stretched; elasticity:stretch jeans
informal a difficult or demanding task:it was a stretch for me to come up with the rent

2a continuous area or expanse of land or water:a treacherous stretch of road
a continuous period of time:long stretches of time
informal a period of time spent in prison:a four-year stretch for tax fraud
chiefly North American a straight part of a racetrack, typically the home straight:he made a promising start, but faded down the stretch
Sailing the distance covered on one tack.

Phrases

at full stretch: with a part of one’s body fully extended: at the wheel was a short figure, arms at full stretch; using the maximum amount of one’s resources or energy:increased export business kept our production plants at full stretch
at a stretch
by no (or not by any) stretch of the imagination: used to emphasize that something is definitely not the case:by no stretch of the imagination could Carl ever be called good-looking
stretch one's legs: go for a short walk after sitting in one place for some time: there is an hour’s stop in Sudbury for everyone to stretch their legs
stretch a point: allow or do something not usually acceptable:since your daughter is one of my regular patients, I’m stretching a point
stretch one's wings: see wing.

Old English streccan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch strekken and German strecken. The noun dates from the late 16th century

Definition of stretch in the US English dictionary