stretch

verb

1》 (of something soft or elastic) be made or be able to be made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.

    ↘pull (something) tightly from one point to another or across a space.

2》 straighten or extend one's body or a part of one's body to its full length.

3》 last or cause to last longer than expected.

    ↘(of finances or resources) be sufficient for a particular purpose.

4》 extend over an area or period of time.

5》 make demands on.

noun

1》 an act of stretching.

    ↘the fact or condition of being stretched.

    ↘the capacity to stretch or be stretched; elasticity.

2》 a continuous expanse or period.

    ↘informal a period of time spent in prison.

    ↘chiefly N. Amer. a straight part of a racetrack, typically the home straight.

    ↘Sailing the distance covered on one tack.

3》 [usu. as modifier] informal a motor vehicle or aircraft modified so as to have extended seating or storage capacity.

4》 informal a difficult or demanding task.

Phrases

at full stretch using the maximum amount of one's resources or energy.

at a stretch

1》 in one continuous period.

2》 just possible but with difficulty.

stretch one's legs go for a short walk, typically after sitting for some time.

stretch a point allow or do something not usually acceptable.

Derivatives

stretchability noun

stretchable adjective

stretchiness noun

stretchy adjective

Origin

OE streccan, of W. Gmc origin.