stretch

A2 · Elementary Sports

v. to straighten your arms or legs to make your muscles feel better.

v. to extend one's limbs or body to full length, typically to improve muscle elasticity or relieve tension.

日本語:伸ばす※

“I always stretch my legs for ten minutes after I go for a run.”

“Yoga practitioners often stretch their hamstrings using straps to ensure they maintain proper alignment during the pose.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to spread over a large area or distance.

v. to extend over a distance or area, or to reach from one point to another.

日本語:広がる※

“The green fields stretch all the way to the mountains in the distance.”

“The coastline stretches for hundreds of miles, featuring a diverse array of cliffs, sandy beaches, and hidden coves.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make someone use all of their skill or to make a small amount of something last longer.

v. to tax or demand the full use of resources or abilities; also to make a limited resource suffice for a longer period.

“This new project will really stretch your creative skills.”

“The charity had to stretch its remaining funds to cover the unexpected increase in emergency applications during the winter months.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a continuous area of land or water.

n. a continuous expanse or distance of something, such as a road, river, or coastline.

“This stretch of the motorway is very dangerous when it rains.”

“The rowers struggled against the current on the final stretch of the river before reaching the finish line.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a continuous period of time.

n. a continuous or unbroken period of time spent in a particular activity or state.

“She worked for a long stretch without taking any holidays.”

“After a long stretch of unemployment, he was relieved to finally receive a formal job offer from the engineering firm.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. something that is difficult to believe or seems like an exaggeration.

n. an interpretation or statement that goes beyond what is strictly logical or supported by facts.

“Calling him a genius is a bit of a stretch, but he is very clever.”

“To suggest that the minor policy change caused the entire economic recovery is a significant stretch of the imagination.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Slang

n. a period of time spent in prison.

n. a term of imprisonment.

“He served a five-year stretch for his part in the robbery.”

“The convict was determined to stay out of trouble after completing a ten-year stretch in a high-security facility.”