stretch

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɛtʃ

[edit] Verb

to stretch (third-person singular simple present stretches, present participle stretching, simple past and past participle stretched)

1. (transitive) To lengthen by pulling.

   I stretched the rubber band until it almost broke.

2. (intransitive)(ergative) To lengthen when pulled.

   The rubber band stretched almost to the breaking point.

3. (transitive) To pull tight.

   First, stretch the skin over the frame of the drum.

4. (figuratively) (transitive) To get more use than expected from a limited resource.

   I managed to stretch my coffee supply a few more days.

5. (figuratively) (transitive) To be inaccurate by exaggeration.

   To say crossing the street was brave is stretching the meaning of "brave" considerably.

6. (intransitive) To extend from limit point to limit point.

   The beach stretches from Cresswell to Amble.

7. (intransitive) To extend one’s limbs or body in order to stretch the muscles.

   Cats stretch with equal ease and agility beyond the point that breaks a man on the rack.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

stretch (plural stretches)

1. An act of stretching.

   I was right in the middle of a stretch when the phone rang.

   To say crossing the street was brave was quite a stretch.

2. The ability to lengthen when pulled.

   That rubber band has quite a bit of stretch.

3. A course of thought which similarly diverts from 'straight' logic
4. A segment of a journey or route.

   It was an easy trip except for the last stretch, which took forever.

5. (baseball) A quick pitching delivery used when runners are on base where the pitcher slides his leg instead of lifting it.
6. (baseball) A long reach in the direction of the ball with a foot remaining on the base by a first baseman in order to catch the ball sooner.
7. A length of time

   He did a 7-year stretch in jail.

[edit] Translations

to be checked

• Maori: taronga

[edit] Related terms

• at full stretch
• by a long stretch
• cat stretch
• outstretch
• overstretch
• seventh inning stretch
• stretchable
• stretch limo
• stretch of the imagination
• stretch mark
• stretch out
• stretch pants
• stretcher
• stretchy