STRETCH

stretch. Stretch, v.t. to extend, strain, expand, display, advance as a ship close hauled under a press of sail

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