26984 words

stretching

12 definitions • 22 examples
1
present participle of
2
to cause something to reach, often as far as possible, in a particular direction:

Examples:

I tripped on a piece of wire that someone had stretched across the path.
stretch your hand out She stretched out her hand and helped him from his chair.
3
to make your body or your arms and legs straight so that they are as long as possible, in order to exercise the joints (= place where two bones are connected) after you have been in the same place or position for a long time:

Examples:

"I'm so tired," she said, yawning and stretching.
It's a good idea to stretch before you do vigorous exercise.
4
to spread over a large area or distance:

Examples:

stretch for The Andes stretch for 7,250 km along the west coast of South America.
stretch from something to something Unsettled weather will stretch from the middle Mississippi Valley to the southern Middle Atlantic States.
stretch as far as the eye can see The refugee camps stretch as far as the eye can see.
5
to go as far as or past the usual limit of something:

Examples:

be stretched to breaking point Many families' budgets are already stretched to breaking point.
be fully stretched We can't work any harder, Paul. We're already fully stretched.
stretch something to the limit This movie really stretches the patience of the audience to the limit.
stretch the rules Normally, people under 18 aren't allowed, but I guess we can stretch the rules for you as it's your birthday tomorrow.
6
in sport, to force an opponent to run a long way or work very hard:

Examples:

7
to (cause a material to) become longer or wider than usual as a result of pulling at the edges:

Examples:

That elastic band will snap if you stretch it too far.
stretch to This substance stretches to any shape you want.
8
If a material stretches, it can become longer or wider when pulled and then return to its original size:

Examples:

stretch fabric You'll need to stretch the fabric over the frame and secure it or it will snap back.
9
to spread over a long period of time:

Examples:

stretch back The dispute stretches back over many years.
stretch into Although we were supposed to finish this month, it looks like the work will stretch well into next year.
10
to make a process or task continue for a longer period of time than was originally planned:

Examples:

stretch something out I'd like to stretch my mortgage payments out over a longer period if possible.
11
If jobs or tasks stretch you, they make you learn new things that use your skill and experience more than before:

Examples:

My present job doesn't stretch me, so I'm looking for something more demanding.
12
to use the existing name of a brand (= a type of product or service with a particular name) for new products and services that may not seem related:

Examples:

Previous attempts by the pharmacy to stretch the brand into areas such as dentistry and dermatology have failed.

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