(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Something that ~es over an area or distance covers or exists in the whole of that area or distance.
The procession ~ed for several miles...
...an artificial reef ~ing the length of the coast.
= extend
VERB: no cont, V prep/adv, V n
2.
A ~ of road, water, or land is a length or area of it.
It’s a very dangerous ~ of road...
N-COUNT: usu N of n
3.
When you ~, you put your arms or legs out straight and tighten your muscles.
He yawned and ~ed...
Try ~ing your legs and pulling your toes upwards...
She arched her back and ~ed herself.
VERB: V, V n, V n
•
Stretch is also a noun.
At the end of a workout spend time cooling down with some slow ~es.
N-COUNT
~ing
Make sure no awkward ~ing is required.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
A ~ of time is a period of time.
...after an 18-month ~ in the army...
He would study for eight to ten hours at a ~.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
5.
If something ~es from one time to another, it begins at the first time and ends at the second, which is longer than expected.
...a working day that ~es from seven in the morning to eight at night.
VERB: V from n to n
6.
If a group of things ~ from one type of thing to another, the group includes a wide range of things.
...a trading empire, with interests that ~ed from chemicals to sugar.
= range
VERB: V from n to n
7.
When something soft or elastic ~es or is ~ed, it becomes longer or bigger as well as thinner, usually because it is pulled.
The cables are designed not to ~...
Ease the pastry into the corners of the tin, making sure you don’t ~ it.
VERB: V, V n
8.
Stretch fabric is soft and elastic and ~es easily.
...~ fabrics such as Lycra.
...~ cotton swimsuits.
ADJ: ADJ n
9.
If you ~ an amount of something or if it ~es, you make it last longer than it usually would by being careful and not wasting any of it.
They’re used to ~ing their budgets...
During his senior year his earnings ~ed far enough to buy an old car.
VERB: V n, V
10.
If your resources can ~ to something, you can just afford to do it.
She suggested to me that I might like to start regular savings and I said Well, I don’t know whether I can ~ to that.
VERB: no cont, V to n
11.
If something ~es your money or resources, it uses them up so you have hardly enough for your needs.
The drought there is ~ing American resources...
Public expenditure was being ~ed to the limit by having to support 3 million unemployed people.
VERB: V n, be V-ed prep/adv
12.
If you say that a job or task ~es you, you mean that you like it because it makes you work hard and use all your energy and skills so that you do not become bored or achieve less than you should.
I’m trying to move on and ~ myself with something different...
They criticised the quality of teaching, claiming pupils were not ~ed enough.
= push
VERB: V pron-refl, V n approval
13.
If you are at full ~, you are using the maximum amount of effort or energy.
Everyone would be working at full ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v
14.
If you say that something is not true or possible by any ~ of the imagination, you are emphasizing that it is completely untrue or absolutely impossible.
Her husband was not a womaniser by any ~ of the imagination...
PHRASE emphasis
15.
If you ~ your legs, you go for a short walk, usually after you have been sitting down for a long time.
I stopped at the square and got out to ~ my legs.
PHRASE: V inflects