GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Stretch , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stretched ; p. pr. & vb. n. Stretching.] [OE. strecchen, AS. streccan; akin to D. strekken, G. strecken, OHG. strecchen, Sw. sträcka, Dan. straekke; cf. AS. straeck, strec, strong, violent, G. strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E. strong. Cf. Straight.]
   To reach out; to extend; to put forth.
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   And stretch forth his neck long and small.
   Chaucer.
   
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   I in conquest stretched mine arm.
   Shak.
   
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   To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope.
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   To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings.
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   To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly.
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   The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain.
   Shak.
   
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   To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle.
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   Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve.
   Doddridge.
   
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   To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit.
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   They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative.
   Burke.
   
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2.       
   Stretch, v. i.
   To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both; to spread; to reach; as, the iron road stretches across the continent; the lake stretches over fifty square miles.
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   As far as stretcheth any ground.
   Gower.
   
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   To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs; as, the lazy man yawns and stretches.
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   To be extended, or to bear extension, without breaking, as elastic or ductile substances.
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   The inner membrane . . . because it would stretch and yield, remained umbroken.
   Boyle.
   
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   To strain the truth; to exaggerate; as, a man apt to stretch in his report of facts. [Obs. or Colloq.]
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   (Naut.) To sail by the wind under press of canvas; as, the ship stretched to the eastward.
   Ham. Nav. Encyc.
   
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   Stretch out, an order to rowers to extend themselves forward in dipping the oar.
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3.       
   Stretch, n.
   Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination.
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   By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain.
   Dryden.
   
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   Those put a lawful authority upon the stretch, to the abuse of yower, under the color of prerogative.
   L'Estrange.
   
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   A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land.
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   A great stretch of cultivated country.
   W. Black.
   
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   But all of them left me a week at a stretch.
   E. Eggleston.
   
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   The extent to which anything may be stretched.
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   Quotations, in their utmost stretch, can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind.
   Atterbury.
   
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   This is the utmost stretch that nature can.
   Granville.
   
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   (Naut.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board.
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   Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal.
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   To be on the stretch, to be obliged to use one's utmost powers. -- Home stretch. See under Home, a.
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