stretch

stretch1 [ stretʃ ] verb ***

▸ 1 make longer/wider

▸ 2 make smooth/tight

▸ 3 make body part straight

▸ 4 continue in space/time

▸ 5 be/have enough money

▸ 6 use money/supplies

▸ 7 not be reasonable

▸ 8 make someone use ability

▸ 9 make seem better etc.

▸ 10 allow something unusual

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive to pull something to make it longer or wider:

I'll have to get these shoes stretched.

a ) intransitive to become longer or wider by pulling:

Her new knit dress had stretched.

b ) intransitive if a material such as cloth stretches, it becomes wider or longer when you pull it, and returns to its original shape and size when you stop pulling it:

When you're pregnant it helps to wear fabrics that stretch as you grow.

2. ) transitive to pull something so that it becomes smooth, straight, and tight:

a folding chair made of canvas stretched on a metal frame

The little birds are caught in nets stretched between the trees.

3. ) intransitive or transitive to make your arms, legs, or body as straight as possible so that your muscles become long and tight:

I leaned back in the chair and stretched.

This exercise strengthens the lower back and stretches the hamstrings.

a ) stretch or stretch out transitive to move an arm or leg away from your body in order to reach something:

He stretched his hand toward her.

4. ) intransitive stretch into/from/to/for/across to continue for a particular distance:

The empire stretched all the way from Scotland to the Pyrenees.

Old gray houses stretched into the distance.

The beach stretched for miles in each direction.

stretch as far as the eye can see: The traffic stretched as far as the eye could see.

a ) stretch to/into/over/beyond/back to continue for a particular period of time:

Paul joined the company on a one-month contract that ultimately stretched to five.

They had an unbeaten record stretching back to 1995.

Negotiations had now stretched into a twelfth day.

5. ) intransitive usually in negatives to be or have enough money to pay for something:

stretch to: I don't really think my salary will stretch to a tailor-made suit.

6. ) transitive to use all the money, supplies, or time available:

At best, police resources are stretched.

stretch something to the limit: City funds were stretched to the limit.

7. ) transitive to no longer be reasonable:

stretch (someone's) credulity/patience etc.: Foreman's book has a plot that stretches credulity to the utmost.

8. ) transitive to make someone use all their intelligence or ability, especially in a way that is interesting or enjoyable:

I don't think his job really stretches him sufficiently.

9. ) transitive to make something seem better or worse than it really is: EXAGGERATE:

It would be stretching the truth to say it was a success.

be stretching it: She's nice, but to call her delightful is stretching it.

10. ) transitive to allow something that is usually not allowed because of a special situation:

We might be prepared to stretch the rules a little in this case.

stretch your legs

to go for a walk after you have been sitting for a long time

,stretch `out phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to lie down, usually in order to relax or sleep:

stretch out on: Porter stretched out on his bunk, hands clasped behind his head.

stretch yourself out: She stretched herself out on the sofa.

2. ) transitive same as STRETCH1 3A:

I stretched out a hand to touch her face.

stretch

stretch 2 [ stretʃ ] noun **

1. ) count stretch of an area of land or water:

The opposite shore lay across a narrow stretch of water.

a deserted stretch of road

a ) usually singular the straight last part of the track in a race: STRAIGHTAWAY:

the final/finishing/home stretch: The horses entered the final stretch shoulder to shoulder.

2. ) count a continuous period of time:

stretch of: You can't learn it all in such a short stretch of time.

at a stretch (=continuously): He'll surf the Internet for anything up to six hours at a stretch.

a ) usually singular INFORMAL a period of time spent in prison:

do a stretch (for something): He's doing a 15-year stretch in Leavenworth for armed robbery.

3. ) count a movement or exercise in which you make a part of your body as straight as possible so that your muscles become long and tight:

He had a quick stretch and then rolled out of bed.

First, let's do some warm-up stretches.

a ) uncount the state of a muscle being stretched:

Bend from the waist until you feel the stretch along your upper arms.

4. ) uncount the ability of a material or piece of clothing to become wider or longer when you pull it, and return to its original shape and size when you stop pulling it:

a fabric that will keep its stretch indefinitely

at full stretch BRITISH

1. ) used for describing a position in which your body or a part of your body is stretching as much as it can

2. ) using all the money, supplies, or energy available

not by any/by no stretch of the imagination

used for saying that you think something cannot be true or possible no matter how hard you try to imagine it:

It's not a great movie by any stretch of the imagination.

stretch

stretch 3 [ stretʃ ] adjective

stretch cloth or clothing becomes wider or longer when you pull it and returns to its original shape and size when you stop pulling it:

stretch fabric

stretch jeans