transitive verb
- to hold out or reach out; extend: to stretch out a helping hand
- to cause (the body or limbs) to reach out to full length, as in yawning, relaxing, reclining, etc.
- to pull or spread out to full extent or to greater size: to stretch sheets out to dry
- to cause to reach or extend over a given space, distance, or time: to stretch pipelines across a continent
- to cause to reach or extend farther or too far; force or strain
- to strain in interpretation, application, scope, etc. to questionable or unreasonable limits: to stretch a rule, to stretch the truth
- to make tense or tight with effort; strain (a muscle, etc.)
- Slang to knock down, esp. so as to cause to lie at full length
Origin:
ME strecchen < OE streccan, akin to Ger strecken < IE *sterg- < base *(s)ter-, to be stiff, rigid > stare