I. stretch 1 S3 W3 /stretʃ/ BrE AmE verb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: streccan ]
1 . MAKE SOMETHING BIGGER/LOOSER
a) [intransitive and transitive] to make something bigger or looser by pulling it, or to become bigger or looser as a result of being pulled:
A spider’s web can stretch considerably without weakening.
Where can I buy those things that stretch your shoes?
b) [intransitive not in progressive] if a material stretches, it can become bigger or longer when you pull it and then return to its original shape when you stop
2 . BODY [intransitive and transitive] to straighten your arms, legs, or body to full length:
Carl sat up in bed, yawned, and stretched.
Always stretch before exercising.
3 . REACH [intransitive always +adverb/preposition] to reach a long way for something
stretch across/over
Ann stretched across the couch and grabbed the phone.
4 . MAKE SOMETHING TIGHT [transitive] to pull something so that it is tight:
The canvas is stretched over a wooden frame.
5 . TIME/SERIES [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to continue over a period of time or in a series, or to make something do this
stretch into/on/over etc
Berg’s career as a government official stretched over 20 years.
With a goal in the second half, Spurs stretched their lead to 3–0.
6 . IN SPACE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to spread out or cover a large area of land
stretch to/into/away etc
Row after row of orange trees stretched to the horizon.
a line stretching around the block
7 . stretch your legs informal to go for a walk, especially after sitting for a long time
8 . stretch (sb’s) patience/credulity to be almost beyond the limits of what someone can accept or believe:
The kids stretch my patience to the limit.
9 . RULE/LIMIT [transitive] British English to allow something that would not normally be allowed by a rule or limit:
This once, I’ll stretch the rules and let you leave work early.
We’ll stretch a point (=allow a rule to be broken) and let the baby travel free this time.
⇨ stretch the rules at ↑ rule 1 (1)
10 . stretch the truth/facts to say or write something that is not completely true:
Reporters sometimes stretch the facts to make a point.
11 . be stretching it informal to make something seem more important, bigger etc than it really is:
He’s a good player, but ‘world class’ is stretching it.
12 . FOOD/MONEY [intransitive and transitive] if you make an amount of money, food etc stretch or it stretches, you use less of it than you usually would so that you have it for a longer time:
I’m going to have to stretch this $20 until payday.
13 . be stretched (to the limit) to have hardly enough money, supplies, time etc for your needs:
We’re stretched at the moment, otherwise we’d go.
14 . not stretch to something British English if someone’s money will not stretch to something, they cannot afford it:
The budget won’t stretch to a new car this year.
15 . ABILITIES [transitive] to make someone use all of their skill, abilities, or intelligence:
The work’s too easy. The students aren’t being stretched enough.
stretch out phrasal verb
1 . informal to lie down, usually in order to sleep or rest:
I’m just going to stretch out on the couch for ten minutes.
2 . stretch something ↔ out to put out your hand, foot etc in order to reach something:
Jimmy stretched out his hand to take the candy.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ exercise to walk, do sports etc in order to stay healthy and become stronger:
To lose weight, exercise regularly and eat less.
▪ do some exercise/a lot of exercise etc this phrase is much more common than the verb exercise , and means the same thing:
Her doctor said that she needed to do more exercise.
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My son does very little exercise – I don’t know how he stays so slim.
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Dogs need lots of exercise.
▪ stay/keep/get in shape to stay or to become physically healthy and strong – used especially when you consider exercise as a way to keep a nice-looking body:
Try jogging with a friend who also wants to get in shape.
▪ keep fit British English to exercise regularly in order to stay healthy and strong:
The class encourages older people to keep fit.
▪ work out to do exercise in order to be healthy and strong, especially to exercise regularly in a gym or exercise class:
He works out three times a week.
▪ tone up ( also firm up ) to exercise in order to make your body or part of your body firmer:
I need to tone up my stomach and legs.
▪ warm up to do gentle exercises to prepare your body for more active exercise:
It’s important to warm up before you begin to play.
▪ stretch to reach your arms, legs, or body out to full length, in order to make your muscles as long as possible, so that you do not injure them when you exercise:
Jog for five minutes, then stretch before starting on your run.
▪ limber up ( also loosen up ) to do gentle exercises so that your muscles are warm and not tight before you begin a more active exercise:
The footballers were limbering up before a training session.
▪ train especially British English to prepare for a sporting event by exercising in a particular way:
She’s training to do the London Marathon.
▪ practise British English , practice American English to do a sports activity regularly, in order to get better and prepare for competition:
The team practices on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
II. stretch 2 BrE AmE noun
1 . LENGTH OF LAND/WATER [countable] an area of land or water, especially one that is long and narrow
stretch of
a beautiful stretch of countryside
2 . TIME [countable] a continuous period of time
stretch of
a stretch of three weeks without sunshine
She doesn’t leave the house for long stretches of time.
She rarely sleeps for eight hours at a stretch (=without stopping) .
3 . BODY [countable] the action of stretching a part of your body out to its full length, or a particular way of doing this:
The ski instructor showed us some special stretches.
4 . by any stretch (of the imagination) spoken used to emphasize that a negative statement is true:
My family wasn’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination.
5 . the home/final stretch
a) the last part of a track before the end of a race
b) the last part of an activity, trip, or process:
As they enter the home stretch of the campaign, the president’s lead has grown.
6 . MATERIAL [uncountable] the ability a material has to increase in length or width without tearing ⇨ stretchy
7 . at full stretch British English
a) using everything that is available:
With staff shortages and appalling weather conditions, the emergency services were at full stretch.
b) with your body or part of your body stretched as far as possible:
He dived and caught the ball at full stretch.
8 . JAIL [countable usually singular] informal a period of time spent in prison
III. stretch 3 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
stretch clothes or material stretch if you pull them, and then return to their original shape:
stretch Levis