/ stretʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
MAKE BIGGER / LOOSER
1.
to make sth longer, wider or looser, for example by pulling it; to become longer, etc. in this way :
[ vn ]
Is there any way of stretching shoes?
[ v ]
This sweater has stretched.
2.
[ v ] ( of cloth ) to become bigger or longer when you pull it and return to its original shape when you stop :
The jeans stretch to provide a perfect fit.
PULL TIGHT
3.
to pull sth so that it is smooth and tight :
[ vn ]
Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame.
[ vn - adj ]
Make sure that the rope is stretched tight.
YOUR BODY
4.
to put your arms or legs out straight and contract your muscles :
[ v ]
He stretched and yawned lazily.
[ vn ]
The exercises are designed to stretch and tone your leg muscles.
REACH WITH ARM
5.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to put out an arm or a leg in order to reach sth :
[ v ]
She stretched across the table for the butter.
[ vn ]
I stretched out a hand and picked up the book.
OVER AREA
6.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to spread over an area of land
SYN extend :
Fields and hills stretched out as far as we could see.
OVER TIME
7.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to continue over a period of time :
The town's history stretches back to before 1500.
The talks look set to stretch into a second week.
MONEY / SUPPLIES / TIME
8.
[ v ] stretch (to sth) (used in negative sentences and questions about an amount of money) to be enough to buy or pay for sth :
I need a new car, but my savings won't stretch to it.
9.
[ vn ] to make use of a lot of your money, supplies, time, etc. :
The influx of refugees has stretched the country's resources to the limit .
We can't take on any more work—we're fully stretched as it is.
SB'S SKILL / INTELLIGENCE
10.
[ vn ] to make use of all sb's skill, intelligence, etc. :
I need a job that will stretch me.
TRUTH / BELIEF
11.
[ vn ] to use sth in a way that would not normally be considered fair, acceptable, etc. :
He admitted that he had maybe stretched the truth a little (= not been completely honest) .
The play's plot stretches credulity to the limit .
•
IDIOMS
- stretch your legs
- stretch a point
—more at rule noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- stretch out | stretch yourself out
■ noun
AREA OF LAND / WATER
1.
[ C ] stretch (of sth) an area of land or water, especially a long one :
an unspoilt stretch of coastline
a particularly dangerous stretch of road
You rarely see boats on this stretch of the river.
PERIOD OF TIME
2.
[ C ] a continuous period of time
SYN spell :
They worked in four-hour stretches.
She used to read for hours at a stretch (= without stopping) .
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( informal ) a period of time that sb spends in prison :
He did a ten-year stretch for fraud.
OF BODY
4.
[ C , U ] an act of stretching out your arms or legs or your body and contracting the muscles; the state of being stretched :
We got out of the car and had a good stretch .
Only do these more difficult stretches when you are warmed up.
Stay in this position and feel the stretch in your legs.
OF FABRIC
5.
[ U ] the ability to be made longer or wider without breaking or tearing :
You need a material with plenty of stretch in it.
stretch jeans
ON RACETRACK
6.
[ C , usually sing. ] a straight part at the end of a racing track
SYN straight :
the finishing / home stretch
( figurative )
The campaign has entered its final stretch.
•
IDIOMS
- at full stretch
- not by any stretch of the imagination | by no stretch of the imagination
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English streccan , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch strekken and German strecken . The noun dates from the late 16th cent.