STRETCH

(REACH) [verb] - to cause (something) to reach as far as possibleA woman has died after being knocked from her motorcycle by a wire that had been stretched across the road between two lampposts. [T]He removed his hat and stretched out his arms to embrace her. [M]She strode briskly down the street, ignoring the beggars who were stretching out their hands for money. [M]He collapsed into the armchair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. [M]She stretched out her hand and helped him from his chair. [M](figurative) I'd like to stretch out my mortgage payments over a longer period if possible. [M](figurative) My present job doesn't stretch me (= need me to learn new things which use my skill and experience) as much as I would like, so I'm looking for something more demanding. [T]If you stretch your body or your arms or legs, you straighten them so that they are as long as possible in order to exercise the joints after you have been in the same place or position for a long time."I'm so tired," she said, yawning and stretching. [I]It's a good idea to stretch before you take vigorous exercise. [I]I try to do ten minutes of stretching exercises every morning.I'd quite like to stay at home tonight and stretch out on the sofa in front of the TV. [I]If you stretch your legs, you go for a walk after sitting in the same position for a long time.We drove there in three hours, including a couple of stops to stretch our legs.