v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. & intr. draw or be drawn or admit of being drawn out into greater length or size.
2 tr. & intr. make or become taut.
3 tr. & intr. place or lie at full length or spread out (with a canopy stretched over them).
4 tr. (also absol.) a extend (an arm, leg, etc.). b (often refl.) thrust out one's limbs and tighten one's muscles after being relaxed.
5 intr. have a specified length or extension; extend (farmland stretches for many miles).
6 tr. strain or exert extremely or excessively; exaggerate (stretch the truth).
7 intr. (as stretched adj.) lying at full length.
--n.
1. a continuous extent or expanse or period (a stretch of open road).
2 the act or an instance of stretching; the state of being stretched.
3 (attrib.) able to stretch; elastic (stretch fabric).
4 a colloq. a period of imprisonment. b a period of service.
5 US the straight side of a racetrack.
6 Naut. the distance covered on one tack.
Phrases and idioms:
at full stretch working to capacity. at a stretch
1. in one continuous period (slept for two hours at a stretch).
2 with much effort. stretch one's legs exercise oneself by walking. stretch marks marks on the skin resulting from a gain of weight, or on the abdomen after pregnancy.
stretch out
1. tr. extend (a hand or foot etc.).
2 intr. & tr. last for a longer period; prolong.
3 tr. make (money etc.) last for a sufficient time. stretch a point agree to something not normally allowed. stretch one's wings see WING.
Derivatives:
stretchable adj. stretchability n. stretchy adj. stretchiness n.
Etymology: OE streccan f. WG: cf. STRAIGHT