stretch
stretch Lexical Profile
stretch Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.
"This knitted wool sweater will stretch if you hang it on a coat hanger while it is still wet."
To straighten or extend one's body or a part of one's body to its full length, typically so as to tighten one's muscles or in order to reach something.
"Athletes should always stretch their muscles thoroughly before beginning a rigorous workout."
To extend or spread over a large area or a long period of time.
"The mountain range stretches for hundreds of miles along the western border of the country."
To place a great or excessive demand on someone's resources, abilities, or Finances, or to push something beyond its reasonable limits.
"Unexpected medical expenses can easily stretch a family's monthly budget to the limit."
• noun
A continuous area or expanse of land, water, or road.
"This scenic stretch of coastline attracts thousands of landscape photographers every summer."
An act of extending or straightening one's body or a part of one's body to its full length, especially to relieve muscle stiffness.
"After sitting at his desk for three hours, he stood up for a quick stretch."
A continuous period of time, or a term of imprisonment.
"The researchers worked for a ten-hour stretch to complete the laboratory experiment on schedule."
An exaggeration, overextension, or difficult demand beyond reasonable or normal limits.
"Claiming that a single policy change will solve every economic challenge is quite a stretch."
• adjective
Made of an elastic material that can easily be pulled out to a greater length or width and then return to its original shape.
"She prefers wearing stretch denim trousers when traveling on long flights."
Having a body that is longer than standard models to provide extra passenger capacity or comfort (especially of a vehicle such as a limousine).
"The wedding party arrived at the reception hall in a white stretch limousine."
• Rhymes for stretch
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'streccan', meaning to spread out or prostrate, which derives from Proto-Germanic '*strakjanan' (related to 'stark', meaning stiff or rigid).