STRETCH | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English streccan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch strekken and German strecken. The noun dates from the late 16th century

(of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking

be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking

• my jumper stretched in the wash
• rubber will stretch easily when pulled

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

straighten or extend one's body or part of one's body to its full length

• the cat yawned and stretched
• I stretched out a weary arm to turn on my radio
• stretching my cramped legs
• we lay stretched out on the sand

extend or spread over an area or period of time

extend or spread over area or period of time

• the beach stretches for over four miles
• the long hours of night stretched ahead of her

make great demands on the capacity or resources of

make great demands on capacity or resources of

• the cost of the court case has stretched their finances to the limit

an act of stretching one's limbs or body

act of stretching one's limbs or body

• I got up and had a stretch

a continuous area or expanse of land or water

continuous area or expanse of land or water

• a treacherous stretch of road

a stretch limo

stretch limo

• a chauffeur-driven stretch