■ verb
1》 stretch out an arm in order to touch or grasp something.
↘( ~ something out ) stretch out one's hand or arm.
↘( ~ something down ) stretch upwards to pick something up and bring it to a lower level.
↘hand (something) to.
2》 be able to touch (something) with an outstretched arm or leg.
3》 arrive at or attain; extend to: unemployment ~ed a peak in 1933.
4》 succeed in achieving.
5》 make contact with.
6》 (of a broadcast or other communication) be received by.
7》 succeed in influencing or having an effect on.
8》 Sailing sail with the wind blowing from the side.
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ing.
2》 the distance to which someone can stretch out their hand (used especially of a boxer).
3》 the extent or range of something's application, effect, or influence.
4》 (often ~es ) a continuous extent of water, especially a stretch of river between two bends.
5》 Sailing a distance traversed in ~ing.
Derivatives
~able adjective
Origin
OE rcan , of W. Gmc origin.