Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To extend or lengthen something to its full or greater length.
   • To hold something out or extend it away from the body.
2. Verb (intransitive):
   • To extend one's body or limbs, often to relieve stiffness.
   • To lie down in a relaxed, extended position.

Usage and Examples

• Transitive Verb (extend an object):
  • Please stretch out the rope so we can measure it.
  • She stretched out her arm to reach the book on the high shelf.
• Intransitive Verb (extend one's body):
  • After the long flight, I need to stand up and stretch out.
  • He stretched out on the sofa and fell asleep.

Advanced Usage

• "stretch out a hand/arm": To extend a limb, typically to offer something, reach for something, or greet someone.
  • She stretched out a hand in friendship.
• "stretch oneself out": To lie down fully extended to rest or relax.
  • He stretched himself out on the grass to look at the clouds.

Variants and Related Words

• Stretch (verb): To make or become longer or wider without breaking.
  • The material can stretch to fit.
• Outstretched (adjective): Extended or stretched out.
  • He welcomed her with outstretched arms.

Synonyms

• Extend: To make longer or larger.
• Proffer: To hold out or put forward something to be taken.
• Unfold: To open or spread out from a folded state.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stretch out for: To reach out in order to take or touch something.
  • The child stretched out for the cookie.
• Stretch out to: To extend as far as a specified point.
  • The queue stretched out to the end of the street.

Related Idioms

• Stretch out the olive branch: To make a gesture of peace or reconciliation. (Note: The common idiom is "hold out an olive branch"; "stretch out" can be used for similar imagery of extending an offer).
  • After their argument, he was the first to stretch out the olive branch.

Verb

1. stretch (the neck) so as to see better
   • The women craned their necks to see the President drive by
2. extend one's body or limbs
   • Let's stretch for a minute--we've been sitting here for over 3 hours
3. thrust or extend out
   • He held out his hand
   • point a finger
   • extend a hand
   • the bee exserted its sting
4. lie down comfortably
   • To enjoy the picnic, we stretched out on the grass
5. extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
   • Unfold the newspaper
   • stretch out that piece of cloth
   • extend the TV antenna