word-vault

{ "term": "stretch", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "stretch", "heSheIt": "stretches" }, "pastSimple": "stretched", "pastParticiple": "stretched", "ingForm": "stretching" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to make something longer, wider or looser, for example by pulling it; to become longer, etc. in this way", "sensetop": "stretch (something)", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Is there any way of stretching shoes?" }, { "text": "Stop stretching your sleeves like that!" }, { "text": "This sweater has stretched." } ], "topics": ["Physics and chemistry"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["taut", "tautly", "tight"], "preposition": ["across", "between", "over"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to become bigger or longer when you pull it and return to its original shape when you stop", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The jeans stretch to provide a perfect fit." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to pull something so that it is smooth and tight", "sensetop": "stretch something (+ adv./prep.)stretch something + adj.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame.", "contextForm": "stretch something (+ adv./prep.)" }, { "text": "Striped awnings had been stretched across the courtyard." }, { "text": "Make sure that the rope is stretched tight.", "contextForm": "stretch something + adj." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["taut", "tautly", "tight"], "preposition": ["across", "between", "over"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to put your arms or legs out straight and contract your muscles", "sensetop": "stretch something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "He stretched and yawned lazily." }, { "text": "Andrea turned out the light and stretched full-length on the bed." }, { "text": "The exercises are designed to stretch and tone your leg muscles.", "contextForm": "stretch something" }, { "text": "It was impossible to bend or stretch my legs." } ], "topics": ["Health and Fitness"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["gently", "lazily", "luxuriously"], "preposition": ["on"], "phrases": ["stretch and yawn", "yawn and stretch"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to put out an arm or a leg in order to reach something", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.stretch something + adv./prep.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She stretched across the table for the butter.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "She stretched up to reach the top shelf." }, { "text": "I stretched out a hand and picked up the book.", "contextForm": "stretch something + adv./prep." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to spread over an area of land", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Fields and hills stretched out as far as we could see." }, { "text": "The traffic jam seemed to **stretch for miles**." }, { "text": "A line of cars stretched into the distance." }, { "text": "The flat landscape stretched to the horizon." }, { "text": "Beyond the mountains stretches a vast desert." }, { "text": "The beach seemed to stretch endlessly." }, { "text": "The road stretched ahead." }, { "text": "The wood does not stretch very far." }, { "text": "an area which stretches from London to the north" } ], "synonyms": "extend", "collocations": { "adverb": ["far", "endlessly", "forever"], "verb + stretch": ["seem to"], "preposition": ["along", "beyond", "from"] } }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "to continue over a period of time", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "The town's history stretches back to before 1500." }, { "text": "to stretch back years/decades/generations/centuries" }, { "text": "The training stretches over a period of 16 months." }, { "text": "Endless summer days stretched out before us." }, { "text": "The talks look set to stretch into a second week." }, { "text": "The future stretched out endlessly in front of me." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["endlessly", "back", "out"], "preposition": ["before", "into"] } }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "to be enough to buy or pay for something", "sensetop": "stretch (to something)", "examples": [ { "text": "I need a new car, but my savings won't stretch to it." }, { "text": "There are lots of things I’d like to buy, but our budget just won’t stretch that far." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "to make use of a lot of your money, supplies, time, etc.", "sensetop": "stretch somebody/something", "examples": [ { "text": "The pandemic has **stretched** healthcare resources **to the limit**." }, { "text": "We can't take on any more work—we're fully stretched as it is." }, { "text": "The budget is already **stretched to breaking point**." }, { "text": "The influx of tourists in the summer stretches the capacity of local transport to its limit." }, { "text": "Our forces are too thinly stretched to control the chaos." }, { "text": "The increase in demand has severely stretched our resources." }, { "text": "Don't stretch yourself too thin financially." }, { "text": "This department is stretched to its limit." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "to increase your lead over somebody in a game or competition", "sensetop": "stretch the lead (to something)", "examples": [ { "text": "A minute later, Kelly stretched their lead to eight points." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 11, "definition": "to make use of all somebody’s skill, intelligence, etc.", "sensetop": "stretch somebody/something", "examples": [ { "text": "I need a job that will stretch me." }, { "text": "She was never really stretched at school." }, { "text": "The book really stretches your imagination." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["really", "severely", "fully"], "preposition": ["to"] } }, { "senseNumber": 12, "definition": "to use something in a way that would not normally be considered fair, acceptable, etc.", "sensetop": "stretch something", "examples": [ { "text": "He admitted that he had maybe **stretched the truth** a little *(= not been completely honest)*." }, { "text": "The play's plot **stretches** credulity **to the limit**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to change the rules to suit a particular person or situation", "examples": [ { "text": "Couldn't they just bend the rules and let us in without a ticket?" } ], "topics": ["Permission and obligation"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to go for a short walk after sitting for some time", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "It was good to get out of the car and stretch our legs." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to allow or do something that is not usually acceptable, especially because of a particular situation", "examples": [ { "text": "I was hoping they would stretch a point and let me stay on for a while." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/stretʃ/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretch__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈstretʃɪz/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretches__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/stretʃt/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretched__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈstretʃɪŋ/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretching__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/stretʃ/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretch__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈstretʃɪz/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretches__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/stretʃt/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretched__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈstretʃɪŋ/", "audio": "st/stretch/stretching__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Old English streccan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch strekken and German strecken. The noun dates from the late 16th cent." }