- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- to reduce the pace or slow down the action of a radio or television program.
- an act or instance of stretching.
- the state of being stretched.
- a continuous length, distance, tract, or expanse: a stretch of meadow.
- the backstretch or homestretch of a racetrack.
- 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.
- 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.
- a nickname for a tall, lanky person.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- to reach or suspend (a rope, etc) from one place to another
- to draw tight; tighten
- to reach or hold (out); extend
- to extend in time
- (of a region, etc) to extend in length or area
- (esp of a garment) to be capable of expanding, as to a larger size
- 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
- to make do with (limited resources)
- to expand or elaborate (a story, etc) beyond what is credible or acceptable
- to extend, as to the limit of one's abilities or talents
- to hang or be hanged by the neck
- stretch a point
- to make a concession or exception not usually made
- to exaggerate
- to take a walk, esp after a period of inactivity
- the act of stretching or state of being stretched
- a large or continuous expanse or distance
- extent in time, length, area, etc
- capacity for being stretched, as in some garments
- (as modifier)
- the section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line
- a term of imprisonment
- at a stretch mainly British
- with some difficulty; by making a special effort
- if really necessary or in extreme circumstances
- at one time