Stretch

/strɛtʃ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

an act of extending or lengthening

She took a stretch before her workout.

a continuous area or expanse of something

We drove for hours through a stretch of desert.

a period of time in which something continues

He had a stretch of bad luck during his trip.

verb

to extend or enlarge in scope, range, or quantity

She tried to stretch her budget to accommodate the new expenses.

to extend physically, especially to an uncommon or excessive length

He stretched his arms and legs after a long flight.

to cause to reach a point of tension, or to go beyond a limit

The teacher wanted to stretch the students' critical thinking skills.

Middle English 'strecche', from Old English 'straeccian' meaning to stretch or pull.

stretch the truth

to exaggerate or present something as being more impressive than it is.

stretch one's legs

to go for a walk to relieve fatigue.

stretch the imagination

to require imaginative thinking beyond the usual limits.

stretched

having been pulled or extended.

stretchable

able to be stretched.

stretched-out

extended or prolonged.

to make an excuse or to overextend a story

He really stretched it when he said he ran five miles in half an hour.

to try to get more than what's fair

She's always trying to stretch her pay by claiming overtime.