- stretch
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 area of land or waterADJECTIVE▪ great, huge, large, long, open, vast, wide▪
A great stretch of ocean lay beneath them.
▪ 15-mile, half-mile, etc.▪ narrow, short, small▪ straight▪a straight stretch of road
▪ continuous, unbroken▪ beautiful, lovely▪ deserted, empty, lonely▪an empty stretch of beach
▪ fast▪ dangerous, hazardous▪ coastal▪a wild uninhabited coastal stretch
▪ final▪She felt a renewed burst of energy for the final stretch.
PREPOSITION▪ along a/the stretch▪There are tailbacks along a ten-mile stretch of the road.
▪ on a/the stretch▪The festival is being held on a stretch of parkland near the river.
▪ stretch ofPHRASES▪ the home stretch (esp. AmE)▪The presidential race has now entered the home stretch. (figurative)
2 period of timeADJECTIVE▪ long▪ short▪ final▪The students have now entered the final stretch of their course.
▪ three-year, two-week, etc.▪ rough, tough (both AmE)▪He went through a tough stretch last year but things are better now.
PREPOSITION▪ stretch of▪She had been unhappy for long stretches of her life.
PHRASES▪ at a stretch▪He worked for three days and nights at a stretch.
3 stretchingADJECTIVE▪ good▪ gentleVERB + STRETCH▪ do▪First let's warm up by doing some stretches.
▪ have▪Have a good stretch from time to time to prevent yourself getting stiff.
▪ hold▪Hold the stretch for a count of ten.
PHRASES▪ at full stretch▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}Her arms were at full stretch.
verb1 pull sth tightADVERB▪ taut, tautly (AmE), tight, tightly▪Make sure that the rope is stretched tight.
▪Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame.
PREPOSITION▪ across, between, over▪Striped awnings had been stretched across the courtyard.
2 your body/part of the bodyADVERB▪ gently▪ lazily, luxuriously▪He stirred and stretched lazily.
▪ full-length▪Andrea turned out the light and stretched full-length on the bed.
▪ down, forward, out, up, upwards/upward▪She stretched up to reach the top shelf.
PREPOSITION▪ on▪He stretched out on the couch and watched TV.
PHRASES▪ stretch and yawn, yawn and stretch▪She sat up, yawning and stretching.
3 cover a large areaADVERB▪ far▪The wood does not stretch very far.
▪ endlessly, forever▪The fields stretched forever into the distance.
▪ ahead, away▪The road stretched ahead.
VERB + STRETCH▪ seem to▪The beach seemed to stretch endlessly.
PREPOSITION▪ along▪ beyond▪ from, to▪an area which stretches from London to the north
▪ for▪The beach stretches for five miles.
▪ into▪A line of cars stretched into the distance.
4 continue over a period of timeADVERB▪ endlessly▪The future stretched out endlessly in front of me.
▪ back, out▪The town's history stretches back to before 1700.
PREPOSITION▪ before▪Endless summer days stretched out before us.
▪ into▪The talks look set to stretch into a second week.
5 your ability/intelligenceADVERB▪ really▪ severely▪The increase in demand has severely stretched our resources.
▪ fully▪We can't take on any more work—we're fully stretched as it is.
▪ thin, thinly▪Don't stretch yourself too thin financially.
▪Our forces are too thinly stretched to control the chaos.
▪ financially (esp. BrE)▪Both parties have financially stretched themselves by taking on substantial mortgages.
PREPOSITION▪ to▪This department is stretched to its limit.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
