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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Stretch: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：extend one's limbs (stretch)

stretch 🔊

/strɛtʃ/

To make your body longer by reaching out your arms and legs, often to feel more relaxed or to warm up.

Stretch meaning illustrated: person performing a side bend torso stretch in sportswear.

extend one's limbs 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstɛnd wʌnz lɪmz/

To lengthen the body by reaching out arms and legs, typically for relaxation or warming up.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'streccan', meaning to extend or straighten.

💡 Mnemonic

Visualize stretching a rubber band; it lengthens just like your body or resources when stretched.

📖 Example

Every morning after I wake up, I stretch my arms above my head to wake up my body. 🔊 Each morning, I extend my arms overhead to energize my body.

🔗 Collocations

stretch out – to extend fully

stretch muscles – to lengthen muscle tissues

take a stretch – to perform a stretching exercise

🔄 Synonyms

extend (v.) – to make longer

reach (v.) – to stretch out

lengthen (v.) – to increase in length

🚫 Antonyms

contract (v.) – to become shorter or tighter

shrink (v.) – to reduce in size

🌱 Derivatives

stretchy (adj.) – able to stretch easily

stretcher (n.) – a device for stretching or carrying

📖 Cultural Story

Etymology: Old English 'streccan', akin to German 'strecken'. Culturally, it's pivotal in sports for flexibility and in finance for describing ambitious goals like 'stretch targets'.

Meaning 2：extend or expand something (stretch)

stretch 🔊

/strɛtʃ/

To make something longer, wider, or looser by pulling it, or to make something last longer or cover more area.

Stretch definition example: hands stretching a blue silicone cover over a glass bowl.

extend or expand something 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstɛnd ɔr ɪkˈspænd ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

To make something longer, wider, or last longer by pulling or adjusting it.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We need to stretch our budget this month to afford both the rent and the unexpected car repair. 🔊 This month, we must extend our budget to cover rent and an unexpected car repair.

🔗 Collocations

stretch the budget – to make a budget cover more expenses

stretch the truth – to exaggerate or not be completely honest

stretch a point – to go beyond the usual limits

🔄 Synonyms

extend (v.) – to make longer in time or space

expand (v.) – to increase in size or scope

prolong (v.) – to make last longer

🚫 Antonyms

reduce (v.) – to make smaller or shorter

limit (v.) – to restrict or confine

🌱 Derivatives

stretchable (adj.) – capable of being stretched

overstretch (v.) – to stretch too much