stretch

Adjective

• easily stretched
  • stretch hosiery
    

• having an elongated seating area
  • a stretch limousine
    

Noun

• the capacity for being stretched

• an unbroken period of time during which you do something
  • there were stretches of boredom
    
  • he did a stretch in the federal penitentiary
    

• extension to or beyond the ordinary limit
  • running at full stretch
    
  • by no stretch of the imagination
    
  • beyond any stretch of his understanding
    

• exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent

• a straightaway section of a racetrack

• the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

• a large and unbroken expanse or distance
  • a stretch of highway
    
  • a stretch of clear water
    

Verb

• extend one's body or limbs
  • Let's stretch for a minute--we've been sitting here for over 3 hours
    

• increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance
  • stretch the soup by adding some more cream
    
  • extend the casserole with a little rice
    

• corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
  • adulterate liquor
    

• extend the scope or meaning of; often unduly
  • Stretch the limits
    
  • stretch my patience
    
  • stretch the imagination
    

• pull in opposite directions
  • During the Inquisition, the torturers would stretch their victims on a rack
    

• lie down comfortably
  • To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass
    

• make long or longer by pulling and stretching
  • stretch the fabric
    

• become longer by being stretched and pulled
  • The fabric stretches
    

• extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
  • Unfold the newspaper
    
  • stretch out that piece of cloth
    
  • extend the TV antenna
    

• extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body
  • Stretch your legs!
    
  • Extend your right arm above your head
    

• occupy a large, elongated area
  • The park stretched beneath the train line
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  stretch(a) , stretchiness , stretchability , stint , stretching , reach , reaching , stretch out , extend , load , adulterate , dilute , debase , elongate , unfold , stretch along
• Antonyms: 
  shrink , contract