1. (v. t.) To reach out; to extend; to put forth.

2. (v. t.) To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope.

3. (v. t.) To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings.

4. (v. t.) To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly.

5. (v. t.) To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle.

6. (v. t.) To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit.

7. (v. i.) To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both; to spread; to reach; as, the iron road stretches across the continent; the lake stretches over fifty square miles.

8. (v. i.) To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs; as, the lazy man yawns and stretches.

9. (v. i.) To be extended, or to bear extension, without breaking, as elastic or ductile substances.

10. (v. i.) To strain the truth; to exaggerate; as, a man apt to stretch in his report of facts.

11. (v. i.) To sail by the wind under press of canvas; as, the ship stretched to the eastward.

12. (n.) Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination.

13. (n.) A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land.

14. (n.) The extent to which anything may be stretched.

15. (n.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board.

16. (n.) Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal.

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