What does "stretching" mean?

1. (physical exercise) the act of pulling your muscles to their full length to stay flexible. 2. (making something longer) the act of pulling something to make it longer or wider. 3. (challenging) describing a task that is difficult and makes you work hard.

How do you use "stretching"?

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the activity in general.

stretching

n. · adj.

US //ˈstɹɛtʃɪŋ// UK //stɹˈɛtʃɪŋ// stretch·ing

1 physical exercise (n.)
A2 Elementary Sport

the act of pulling your muscles to their full length to stay flexible.

a form of physical exercise where specific skeletal muscles are elongated to improve elasticity and muscle tone.

Example

Daily stretching can help prevent injuries when you go running.

Example

The athlete incorporated dynamic stretching into her pre-competition routine to ensure her hamstrings were sufficiently prepared for the sprint.

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the activity in general.
- flexibility training
- warm up
2 making something longer (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the act of pulling something to make it longer or wider.

the physical act or process by which a material or object is elongated or expanded.

Example

The constant stretching of the elastic band caused it to snap.

Example

The repeated stretching of the leather over the frame ensured a tight, professional fit for the upholstery project.
- extension
- expansion
- elongation
- contraction
- shrinkage

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3 challenging (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

describing a task that is difficult and makes you work hard.

requiring a high level of effort, skill, or performance; testing the limits of one's ability.

Example

The teacher gave the advanced students a stretching assignment to keep them busy.

Example

The board set several stretching targets for the new CEO, designed to push the company toward unprecedented growth within the first fiscal year.
- easy
- undemanding

Etymology 1

From Middle English strecching, strecchinge, equivalent to stretch + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English strecchinge, strecchynge, from Old English streċċende, from Proto-West Germanic strakkjandī, present participle of strakkjan (“to stretch”), equivalent to stretch + -ing.