Meaning & Definition of Stretch in English
Stretch
noun
1. A large and unbroken expanse or distance
- "A stretch of highway"
- "A stretch of clear water"
- stretch
2. The act of physically reaching or thrusting out
- reach,
- reaching,
- stretch
3. A straightaway section of a racetrack
- stretch
4. Exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent
- stretch,
- stretching
5. Extension to or beyond the ordinary limit
- "Running at full stretch"
- "By no stretch of the imagination"
- "Beyond any stretch of his understanding"
- stretch
6. An unbroken period of time during which you do something
- "There were stretches of boredom"
- "He did a stretch in the federal penitentiary"
- stretch,
- stint
7. The capacity for being stretched
- stretch,
- stretchiness,
- stretchability
verb
1. Occupy a large, elongated area
- "The park stretched beneath the train line"
- stretch,
- stretch along
2. Extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body
- "Stretch your legs!"
- "Extend your right arm above your head"
- stretch,
- extend
3. Extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
- "Unfold the newspaper"
- "Stretch out that piece of cloth"
- "Extend the tv antenna"
- unfold,
- stretch,
- stretch out,
- extend
4. Become longer by being stretched and pulled
- "The fabric stretches"
- stretch
5. Make long or longer by pulling and stretching
- "Stretch the fabric"
- elongate,
- stretch
6. Lie down comfortably
- "To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass"
- stretch,
- stretch out
7. Pull in opposite directions
- "During the inquisition, the torturers would stretch their victims on a rack"
- stretch
8. Extend the scope or meaning of
- Often unduly
- "Stretch the limits"
- "Stretch my patience"
- "Stretch the imagination"
- stretch
9. Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
- Often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
- "Adulterate liquor"
- load,
- adulterate,
- stretch,
- dilute,
- debase
10. 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"
- extend,
- stretch
11. Extend one's body or limbs
- "Let's stretch for a minute--we've been sitting here for over 3 hours"
- stretch,
- stretch out
adjective
1. Having an elongated seating area
- "A stretch limousine"
- stretch(a)
2. Easily stretched
- "Stretch hosiery"
- stretch