Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - stretch

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English strecchen, from Old English streccan; akin to Old High German strecchan to ~, Old English str?c firm, severe  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1. to extend (as one's limbs or body) in a reclining position  2. to reach out ; extend ~ed out her arms  3. to extend in length ~ed his neck to see what was going on  4. to fell with or as if with a blow  5. to cause the limbs of (a person) to be pulled especially in torture  6. to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position  7. to pull taut canvas ~ed on a frame  8.  a. to enlarge or distend especially by force  b. to extend or expand as if by physical force ~ one's mind with a good book  c. strain ~ed his already thin patience  9. to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space) ~ a wire between two posts  10.  a. to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits the rules can be ~ed this once  b. to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function ~ing a dollar  11. to extend (a hit) to an extra base usually by fast or daring running ~ a single into a double  intransitive verb  1.  a. to become extended in length or breadth or both ; spread broad plains ~ing to the sea  b. to extend over a continuous period the dynasty ~es back several centuries  2. to become extended without breaking  3.  a. to extend one's body or limbs ~ed before jogging wanted to ~ out on the sofa  b. to lie down at full length  • ~ability noun  • ~able adjective  • ~y adjective  II. noun  Date: 1541  1.  a. an exercise of something (as the understanding or the imagination) beyond ordinary or normal limits their conclusion seemed like a bit of a ~  b. an extension of the scope or application of something a ~ of language  2. the extent to which something may be ~ed  3.  a. the act of ~ing ; the state of being ~ed a good ~ for legs  b. the position of a pitcher standing sideways to home plate so as to keep a runner close to a base pitching from the ~  4.  a. an extent in length or area an open ~ of road  b. a continuous period of time can write for eight hours at a ~  5. a walk to relieve fatigue  6. a term of imprisonment served a 10-year ~  7.  a. either of the straight sides of a racecourse; especially home~  b. a final stage (as of a contest or season) won some crucial games down the ~  8. the capacity for being ~ed ; elasticity a waistband with lots of ~  9. a ~ limousine  III. adjective  Date: 1954  1. easily ~ed ; elastic a ~ wig  2. longer than the standard size a ~ limousine