- Stretched
- Stretch 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. str["a]cka, Dan.
str[ae]kke; cf. AS. str[ae]ck, strec, strong, violent, G.
strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E.
strong. Cf. {Straight}.]
1. To reach out; to extend; to put forth.
[1913 Webster]
And stretch forth his neck long and small. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
I in conquest stretched mine arm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope. [1913 Webster]
3. To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings. [1913 Webster]
4. To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly. [1913 Webster]
The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle. [1913 Webster]
Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve. --Doddridge. [1913 Webster]
6. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit. [1913 Webster]
They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.