stretch

About 10.88 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To lengthen by pulling.

   I stretched the rubber band until it almost broke.

2. verb To lengthen when pulled.

   The rubber band stretched almost to the breaking point.

3. verb To pull tight.

   First, stretch the skin over the frame of the drum.

4. verb To extend one’s limbs or another part of the body, for example in order to improve the elasticity of one's muscles.

   I always stretch my muscles before exercising.

5. verb To extend physically, especially from a limit point and/or to a limit point.

   The beach stretches from Cresswell to Amble.

6. verb To get more use than expected from a limited resource.

   I managed to stretch my coffee supply a few more days.

7. verb To make inaccurate by exaggeration.

   To say crossing the street was brave is stretching the meaning of "brave" considerably.

8. verb To make great demands on the capacity or resources of something.

   Her bizarre explanation really stretches credulity.

Similar words

elongate reach reaching extend stretchiness stint stretch out unfold water down dilute

Often followed by

of out the and to from in your their

Word family

stretchabilities stretchability stretchable stretched stretches stretchier stretchiest stretching stretchy