Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Stretch \Stretch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stretched}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Stretching}.] [OE. strecchen, AS. streccan; akin to D.
   strekken, G. strecken, OHG. strecchen, Sw. str["a]cka, Dan.
   str[ae]kke; cf. AS. str[ae]ck, strec, strong, violent, G.
   strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E.
   strong. Cf. {Straight}.]
   1. To reach out; to extend; to put forth.

            And stretch forth his neck long and small.
                                                  --Chaucer.

            I in conquest stretched mine arm.     --Shak.

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

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

   4. To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly.

            The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain.
                                                  --Shak.

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

            Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve.  --Doddridge.

   6. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the
      truth; to stretch one's credit.

            They take up, one day, the most violent and
            stretched prerogative.                --Burke.

Stretching \Stretch"ing\,
   a. & n. from {Stretch}, v.

   {Stretching course} (Masonry), a course or series of
      stretchers. See {Stretcher}, 2. --Britton.

Source : WordNet®

stretching
     adj : extending far; "beyond the misty gray of the rain he saw the
           stretching hutment"; "wide-spreading plains" [syn: {stretching(a)},
            {wide-spreading}]
     n 1: act of expanding by lengthening or widening
     2: exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their
        full extent [syn: {stretch}]