stretch

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. extend, lengthen, spread, expand, increase; stretch out, sprawl; informal, exaggerate, strain, force. —n. expansion, reach, range; length, field, expanse; elasticity; long run, distance, home- or backstretch; overstatement, exaggeration; slang, sentence, hitch. See exertion, punishment.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

Syn. extent, compass, range, reach; see time 1 .

v.

1. [To become longer]

Syn. grow, expand, be extended, extend oneself, spread, unfold, increase, swell, spring up, shoot up, open, burst forth.

Ant. contract*, shrink, wane.

2. [To cause to stretch, sense 1]

Syn. tighten, strain, make tense, draw, draw out, elongate, extend, develop, distend, inflate, lengthen, magnify, amplify, spread out, widen, pull, pull out of shape, pull into shape, draw tight, make taut, tauten.

Ant. relax*, let go, slacken.

3. [To occupy space]

Syn. extend across, range, extend to, spread over, cover a given distance; see also occupy 2 , reach 1 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. extension expansion, elongation, reach.

2. expanse area, run, spread, tract, space, distance, sweep, area, extent.

3. duration spell, time, period, span, run, interval, tour of duty, term.

4. exaggeration.

ANT.: 1. contraction, retraction

II

v.

1. extend expand, elongate, reach, protract, lengthen, span, traverse, inflate, prolong, drag out.

2. strain force.

3. exaggerate.

ANT.: 1. contract, retract

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To make or become longer. Also used with out: draw out, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, prolongate, protract, spin (out). Mathematics: produce. See INCREASE, LONG. 2. To move or arrange so as to cover a larger area: expand, extend, fan1 (out), open (out or up), outstretch, spread, unfold, unroll. See MOVE. 3. To proceed on a certain course or for a certain distance: carry, extend, go, lead, reach, run. See REACH. 4. To extend, especially an appendage. Also used with out: outstretch, reach. See REACH. 5. To be or place oneself in a prostrate or recumbent position. Also used with out: lie1 (down), recline, repose. See HORIZONTAL. 6. To take repose, as by sleeping or lying quietly. Also used with out: lie1 (down), recline, repose, rest1. See CONTINUE. II noun 1. The measure of how far or long something goes in space, time, or degree: extent, length, reach, span. See BIG. 2. An extent, measured or unmeasured, of linear space: distance, length, space. Informal: piece, way. See BIG. 3. A wide and open area, as of land, sky, or water: distance, expanse, expansion, extent, reach, space, spread, sweep. See PLACE. 4. A specific length of time characterized by the occurrence of certain conditions or events: period, season, span, term. See TIME. 5. A limited or specific period of time during which something happens, lasts, or extends: duration, span, term, time. See TIME. 6. A term of service, as in the military or in prison: hitch, time, tour. See TIME. 7. A limited, often assigned period of activity, duty, or opportunity: bout, go, hitch, inning (often used in plural), shift, spell3, stint, time, tour, trick, turn, watch. See TIME. III adjective Capable of being extended or expanded: expansible, expansile, extendible, extensible, extensile, protractile, stretchable. See INCREASE.