What does stretched mean

Stretch Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

1 of 3

ˈstrech

transitive verb

: to extend (one's limbs, one's body, etc.) in a reclining position

: to reach out : extend

stretched out her arms

: to extend in length

stretched his neck to see what was going on

: to fell with or as if with a blow

: to cause the limbs of (a person) to be pulled especially in torture

: to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position

: to pull taut

canvas stretched on a frame

: to enlarge or distend especially by force

: to extend or expand as if by physical force

stretch one's mind with a good book

: strain

stretched his already thin patience

: to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)

stretch a wire between two posts

: to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits

the rules can be stretched this once

: to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function

stretching a dollar

: to extend (a hit) to an extra base usually by fast or daring running

stretch a single into a double

intransitive verb

: to become extended in length or breadth or both : spread

broad plains stretching to the sea

: to extend over a continuous period

the dynasty stretches back several centuries

: to become extended without breaking

: to extend one's body or limbs

stretched before jogging

wanted to stretch out on the sofa

: to lie down at full length

stretchability

ˌstre-chə-ˈbi-lə-tē

noun

stretchable

ˈstre-chə-bəl

adjective

stretchy

ˈstre-chē

adjective

stretch

2 of 3

: an exercise of something (such as the understanding or the imagination) beyond ordinary or normal limits

their conclusion seemed like a bit of a stretch

: an extension of the scope or application of something

a stretch of language

: the extent to which something may be stretched

: the act of stretching: the state of being stretched

a good stretch for legs

: the position of a pitcher standing sideways to home plate so as to keep a runner close to a base

pitching from the stretch

: an extent in length or area

an open stretch of road

: a continuous period of time

can write for eight hours at a stretch

: a walk to relieve fatigue

: a term of imprisonment

served a 10-year stretch

: either of the straight sides of a racecourse

especially : homestretch

: a final stage (as of a contest or season)

won some crucial games down the stretch

: the capacity for being stretched : elasticity

a waistband with lots of stretch

: a stretch limousine

stretch

3 of 3

: easily stretched: elastic

a stretch wig

: longer than the standard size

a stretch limousine

Phrases

stretch a point

: to go beyond what is strictly warranted in making a claim or concession

stretch one's legs

: to extend the legs

: to take a walk in order to relieve stiffness caused by prolonged sitting

Synonyms

Verb

color
elaborate (on)
embellish
embroider
exaggerate
hyperbolize
magnify
pad

Noun

breadth
distance
expanse
expansion
extent
field
length
plain
reach
sheet
spread
waste

Adjective

bouncy
elastic
flexible
resilient
rubberlike
rubbery
springy
stretchable
stretchy
supple
whippy

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Example Sentences

Verb Don't yank on my sweater. You'll stretch it. The elastic waistband of my pants won't stretch any more. It's important to stretch before you exercise. The baby stretched and yawned. She woke up and stretched her arms above her head. She stretched over us to open the window. She stretched her hand toward him. She stretched the canvas over the wooden frame. The T-shirt was stretched tight over his belly. A big banner was stretched across the doorway. Noun a 60-mile stretch of beach an open stretch of highway These are good stretches for your leg muscles. I always spend a few minutes doing stretches before I exercise. I can feel the stretch in the back of my legs. Adjective stretch fabrics that don't wrinkle or sag See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Furthermore, a lot of Tesla owners are younger buyers captivated by the chic brand and often need to stretch their finances to be able to afford them. —Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2023 Another great way to get away from work mentally is to stretch yourself through new experiences or new learning. —Tracy Brower, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022 This could both free up audiences and renew their investment in the universe, and allow filmmakers to stretch themselves creatively. —Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2022 Kansas City and Buffalo are working on consecutive games over 30 points so have the chance to stretch it to three in a row this weekend. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 22 Nov. 2022 Next, install the carpet padding, cut the carpet, lay the carpet, and stretch it. —Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Nov. 2022 Björk, Fossora Björk’s music endures for many reasons, but her ability to seamlessly blend personal experience and universal ideas — to share her life, and also stretch it into the cosmos — must be considered primary to her brilliance. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2022 He was cut down trying to stretch it into a triple, and the Astros got only one runner to second base the rest of the way. —David Ginsburg, Chron, 23 Sep. 2022 Tommy Pham singled to right and made the mistake of challenging Judge’s arm by trying to stretch it into a double. —David Waldstein, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2022

Buckley made nine straight pars after opening with a birdie, and then had a six-shot stretch on the back nine of one par, two bogeys and three birdies. —Dallas News, 15 Jan. 2023 Brad Stevens has about 25 days to determine whether the Celtics need reinforcements before the stretch run. —Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Jan. 2023 The clutch play down the stretch enabled the Sun Devils to register their 37th halftime comeback in the Hurley tenure. —Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 14 Jan. 2023 Houston’s offense stagnating down the stretch has become a hallmark of the 2022-23 season. —Michael Shapiro, Chron, 13 Jan. 2023 The diverse stretch is a local secret for boaters and those seeking a full-stop Old Florida vacation but also for a new wave of home buyers. —WSJ, 13 Jan. 2023 The 12-month stretch through October was the worst for any 12 months since 1794. —Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2023 These tights offer the stretch of traditional tights but the opacity and comfort of a legging. —L.a. Hubilla, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2023 In a one-off role, 2013 winner Tony Kanaan was right there down-the-stretch fighting for his second win and finished 3rd. —Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2023

The preference assuredly would be a stretch five, with Orlando Robinson not there yet, at least on the NBA level. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2022 With that win off the table, the Cowboys must now beat Minnesota and the New York Giants in a span of five days to complete the stretch 2-1. —Dallas News, 14 Nov. 2022 The peaks are all over 8,000 meter high and stretch across both the Himalayan and the Karakoram ranges of Asia. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 July 2022 Readings near or past 100 degrees stretch from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada on Friday. —Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Such a system involves a skinlike base that can flex and stretch, equipped with a power supply, various sensors and ways to send the sensor information to a central processor. —Fionna M. D. Samuels, Scientific American, 30 June 2022 The women on our team were very interested in the promise made by this brand to promote vaginal health, though that seemed to be a stretch goal. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022 Before the launch, the HR team set a stretch goal of 50%. —David Rock, Forbes, 20 May 2021 The problem is that the milestones which were painted as stretch goals were in fact internally considered quickly achievable, the lawsuit argues. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 17 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stretch. ' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English strecchen, from Old English streccan; akin to Old High German strecchan to stretch, Old English stræc firm, severe

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of stretch was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near

stretch

stress-verse

stretch

stretchberry

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

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“Stretch. ” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stretch. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.

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Kids Definition

stretch

1 of 3 verb

ˈstrech

: to extend (as one's body) in a flat position

stretched out on the bed

: to reach out

stretched my arm

: to extend or become extended in length or width or both : spread

stretched his neck to see what was going on

: to extend over a continuous period

the dynasty stretches back several centuries

: to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position

awoke and stretched myself

: to pull tight

stretch the canvas on the frame

: to enlarge or expand especially by force

: to make excessive demands on : strain

stretched her already thin patience

: to cause to reach or continue

stretch a wire between two posts

: exaggerate

stretch the truth

: to become extended without breaking

: to extend one's body or limbs

stretched before jogging

stretchability

ˌstrech-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

stretchable

ˈstrech-ə-bəl

adjective

stretch

2 of 3 noun

: an exercise of something beyond ordinary or normal limits

stretch of the imagination

: the extent to which something may be stretched

: the act of stretching (as of the body) : the state of being stretched

: an extent in length or area

a stretch of woods

: a continuous period of time

silent for a stretch

: a term of imprisonment

: either of the straight sides of a racecourse

especially : homestretch sense 1

: the ability to be stretched

stretch

3 of 3 adjective

: easily stretched : elastic

stretch socks

: longer than the standard size

a stretch limousine

Medical Definition

stretch

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈstrech

: to extend in length

was told to stretch the leg muscles before running

: to enlarge or distend especially by force

intransitive verb

: to become extended in length or breadth

: to extend one's body or limbs

stretch

2 of 2 noun

: the act of stretching: the state of being stretched

a muscle or group of muscles in stretch—C. R. Houck

More from Merriam-Webster on

stretch

Nglish: Translation of stretch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of stretch for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stretch

Last Updated: 18 Jan 2023 - Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Stretch - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

To stretch is to extend or lengthen something beyond the normal length. You stretched both your vacation and the truth when you called out of work on Monday saying your flight home from Ibiza was canceled.

Stretch is a word that has many great usages. The sense of extending one’s limbs came about circa 1200. Four hundred years later brought the phrase "stretch your legs," meaning take a walk. Don’t walk too vigorously, though, or you could stretch a muscle. The word can also be used as a noun, meaning an expanse, as in, "Looking toward the horizon, the thirsty man saw an endless stretch of sand."

Definitions of stretch

verb
extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body

“Stretch your legs!”
synonyms: extend
verb
extend one's body or limbs

“Let's stretch for a minute--we've been sitting here for over 3 hours”
synonyms: stretch out
verb
pull in opposite directions
verb
extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length

“stretch out that piece of cloth”
synonyms: extend, stretch out, unfold
extend
open or straighten out; unbend
verb
make long or longer by pulling and stretching

“stretch the fabric”
synonyms: elongate
verb
become longer by being stretched and pulled

“The fabric stretches”
noun
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

synonyms: reach, reaching
noun
exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent

synonyms: stretching
noun
the capacity for being stretched

synonyms: stretchability, stretchiness
noun
a straightaway section of a racetrack
adjective
having an elongated seating area

“a stretch limousine”
Synonyms:
long
primarily spatial sense; of relatively great or greater than average spatial extension or extension as specified
adjective
easily stretched

“stretch hosiery”
Synonyms:
elastic
capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy
verb
extend the scope or meaning of; often unduly

“Stretch the limits”
“stretch my patience”
“stretch the imagination”
verb
increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance

“stretch the soup by adding some more cream”
synonyms: extend
adulterate, debase, dilute, load
corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
verb
corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones

synonyms: adulterate, debase, dilute, load
extend
increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance
noun
extension to or beyond the ordinary limit

“running at full stretch”
“by no stretch of the imagination”
“beyond any stretch of his understanding”
noun
an unbroken period of time during which you do something

“there were stretches of boredom”
“he did a stretch in the federal penitentiary”
synonyms: stint
verb
lie down comfortably

“To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass”
synonyms: stretch out
verb
occupy a large, elongated area

“The park stretched beneath the train line”
synonyms: stretch along
noun
a large and unbroken expanse or distance

“a stretch of highway”
“a stretch of clear water”

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The meaning of words in dictionaries

The complexity and versatility of the Russian language sometimes surprise even its native speakers. The peculiarity lies in the lack of structure. After all, a lot of liberties are allowed not only in the construction of sentences. The use of some word forms also has several variations.

Difficulties and peculiarities of working with the word

The Russian language has a huge number of assumptions that cannot be found in other cultures. Indeed, not only literary words are often used in speech, of which there are more than 150 thousand. But also dialectisms. Since there are many peoples and cultures in Russia, there are more than 250 thousand of them. Not surprisingly, even native speakers sometimes need to find the exact meanings of words. This can be done using explanatory dictionaries or a special WordMap service. nine0003

Why is such a platform convenient? This is a clear and simple dictionary of word meanings, which is proposed to be used online. The service allows:

to find out the exact meaning of a word or idiom;
determine its correct spelling;
to understand how to properly emphasize it.

The site offers to get acquainted with the history of the word. It tells what language or culture it came from, when and by whom it was used in speech. nine0003

When looking up the meaning of words in a dictionary, it is important to understand its essence. After all, the sound component of each lexical unit in the language is inextricably linked with certain objects or phenomena. That is why when using the service, you should not put an equal sign between the meaning of the searched word and its concept. They are interconnected, but they are not a single whole. For example, the concept of the word "center" can be defined as the middle of something. However, specific meanings can indicate the interior of a room, a city, a geometric figure, etc. Sometimes it refers to a medical organization, mathematics or mechanical engineering. Polysemy is the complexity of the Russian language. nine0003

Finding values through WordMap

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Distended stomach.

Can you stretch your stomach?

First, then the second, then dessert and a cup of coffee. Now you can eat an apple and leave the table. If this is your usual lunch or dinner, then this article is for you. More precisely, for you and your stomach. nine0003

The stomach is an elastic muscular organ, it is in it that food is processed by gastric juice and converted into chyme (semi-liquid slurry). Whenever you eat a large meal and drink a lot of liquid, the stomach expands to accommodate everything that you just pleased yourself with. But as the partially digested food passes from the stomach into the duodenum for the next stage of digestion, it begins to shrink again and gradually return to its normal size. The stomach is completely emptied 2-3 hours after eating. Thus, a single case of overeating will not lead to an increase in the volume of the stomach and will not make you forever hungry and insatiable. But what happens if you regularly “pamper” yourself and your stomach with large portions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we asked the expert to tell. nine0003

Natalia Fadeeva

nutritionist-endocrinologist, candidate of medical sciences, weight loss expert

- Regular mechanical stretching of the stomach with abundant food leads to a significant increase in its size, and this, in turn, can cause not only an increase in body weight, but also subsequently the prolapse of the stomach itself. In addition, daily feasts are also dangerous because the distended stomach gradually ceases to accept small portions of food - a feeling of satiety will come only after a very, very hearty lunch or dinner. It should be noted that the liquid does not linger in the stomach for more than five minutes, so it is not able to stretch it. Only solid food stretches the stomach. nine0003

On average, the volume of an empty stomach is 500 milliliters, but since the stomach is a muscular organ, when food is received, it is stretched, usually up to one liter, and with obesity, a distended stomach can reach 3-4 liters.

In itself, stretching is just a symptom, and it is one of the many symptoms of obesity. Thus, you need to deal not so much with a stretched stomach as with the correction of your eating habits. In addition to distension and prolapse of the stomach, obese people may develop various health problems: diaphragmatic hernia, impaired kinetic function of the gastrointestinal tract, a significant increase in stomach acid, and gastroesophageal reflux - the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, which is often accompanied by belching and heartburn. . Since obesity is the cause of all these digestive problems, they should be treated in the same ways: diet therapy, physical activity, and changing food stereotypes. And in the presence of gastroenterological diseases or if they are suspected, in no case should you self-medicate - contact a specialist who will select the course of treatment that is right for you. nine0003

As a result, a distended stomach leads to a decrease in muscle tone, which can lead to stasis or congestion in the stomach - the patient feels permanent fullness and heaviness. Plus, obese people secrete more hydrochloric acid in the stomach than people with normal body weight, and if the body did not produce more mucus as a defense, which covers the gastric mucosa, gastritis and ulcers would be detected much more often. In addition, with obesity, a distended stomach produces more enzymes for digesting food, and the absorptive surface of the small intestine increases several times. nine0003

Reducing the size of the stomach is not an end in itself. It is necessary to start losing weight as soon as possible - switch to regular 5-8 meals a day and increase physical activity. As soon as this happens, the stomach itself will gradually return to its normal volumes. At the same time, you can eat only small portions. Then the person will not feel hungry during the day and will be able to lead an active lifestyle. Each serving should contain a large amount of vegetable fiber - it just gives a feeling of volume and satiety - and be less calorie than everything that you ate before. nine0003

When it comes to physical activity for obese people, it is important not to go too far and be methodical and consistent. Optimally - daily walks at a pace convenient for you. There are no time limits, walk as much as you can. The main thing is to do it every day. In addition or as an alternative, you can buy a pool pass and go swimming. This type of cardio workout is great for people who are overweight, as the stress on the joints is minimal during swimming. Well, as for people with normal body weight or those with an extra five kilograms, they do not have and cannot have any distension of the stomach. nine0003

Yes, from time to time on TV you can see advertisements for procedures that supposedly allow you to reduce the size of the stomach, as a result of which you can lose weight. Alas, many really consider such methods of "treatment" a panacea for obesity. But it's not. In the absence of a balanced diet and physical activity, after such interventions, the weight will return.