Noun
-
the capacity for being stretched
-
an unbroken period of time during which you do something
"there were stretches of boredom"
"he did a stretch in the federal penitentiary"
-
extension to or beyond the ordinary limit
"running at full stretch"
"by no stretch of the imagination"
"beyond any stretch of his understanding"
-
exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent
-
a straightaway section of a racetrack
-
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
-
a large and unbroken expanse or distance
"a stretch of highway"
"a stretch of clear water"
Verb
-
extend one's body or limbs
"Let's stretch for a minute--we've been sitting here for over 3 hours"
- stretch out -
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"
-
corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
"adulterate liquor"
-
extend the scope or meaning of
often unduly
"Stretch the limits"
"stretch my patience"
"stretch the imagination"
-
pull in opposite directions
"During the Inquisition, the torturers would stretch their victims on a rack"
-
lie down comfortably
"To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass"
- stretch out -
make long or longer by pulling and stretching
"stretch the fabric"
-
become longer by being stretched and pulled
"The fabric stretches"
-
extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
"Unfold the newspaper"
"stretch out that piece of cloth"
"extend the TV antenna"
- stretch out -
extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body
"Stretch your legs!"
"Extend your right arm above your head"
-
occupy a large, elongated area
"The park stretched beneath the train line"
- stretch along
Adjective
-
easily stretched
"stretch hosiery"
-
having an elongated seating area
"a stretch limousine"