USAGE NOTE
This word must be preceded by the definite article in the sense shown in 14).
stretch(
strehch
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to flex)
a. estirar
The cook stretched the dough, making sure it was all of equal thickness.El cocinero estiró la masa comprobando que tenía toda el mismo grosor.
b. alargar
They're going to stretch the rope across the field.Van a alargar la cuerda a través del campo.
c. ensanchar
The boots are still too tight. Can you stretch them?Los botas aprietan demasiado aún. ¿Las podrías ensanchar?
a. estirar
We're going to have to stretch the money in order to meet the budget.Vamos a tener que estirar el dinero para cumplir con el presupuesto.
a. exigir
I'm bored with the class. I feel like I'm not being stretched enough.Me aburre la clase. Siento que no me exige lo suficiente.
a. retorcer (the truth or the law)
It wasn't a lie, but he stretched the truth a bit.No era mentira, pero retorció un poco la verdad.
b. forzar (the rules or the law)
Some employers stretch the rules to get things done.Algunos empleadores fuerzan las normas para que las cosas salgan adelante.
c. poner a prueba (someone's patience)
Our youngest kid was stretching our patience to the limit.Nuestro hijo menor estaba poniendo a prueba nuestra paciencia.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
b. desperezarse (when tired)
He yawned, stretched and got up to make himself some coffee.Bostezó, se desperezó y se levantó para prepararse un café.
c. estirar (when exercising)
All the players were stretching on the field before the game.Todos los jugadores estaban estirando en el campo antes del partido.
8. (to extend)
a. extenderse
The river stretches from the mountains to the sea.El río se extiende desde la montaña hasta el mar.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
10. (area)
a. el tramo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
You should be careful driving through that stretch of the road.Deberías tener cuidado al conducir por ese tramo de la carretera.
c. la extensión (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I just bought a stretch of land in the West of Texas.Acabo de comprar una extensión de terreno en el oeste de Texas.
11. (period of time)
a. el periodo de tiempo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I lived in the South for a stretch, and then I came back home.Viví en el sur durante un periodo de tiempo y luego volví a casa.
b. el periodo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
They used to stay inside the house for long stretches of time.Solían quedarse en casa durante largos periodos de tiempo.
a. el estiramiento (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The next stretch I'm going to teach is very important to your rehabilitation.El siguiente estiramiento que te voy a enseñar es muy importante para tu rehabilitación.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Do you feel that stretch in your calf?¿Sientes cómo se te estira la pantorrilla?
You should feel the stretch in the muscles in the front of your legs.Deberías notar que se estiran los músculos delanteros de tus piernas.
13. (elasticity)
a. la elasticidad (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The cord doesn't have much stretch left to it.A la cuerda no le queda mucha más elasticidad.
14. (sports)
a. la recta final (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The crowd got excited as the horses entered the stretch.El público se alborotó cuando los caballos enfilaron la recta final.
15. (exaggeration)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I think it's a bit of a stretch but they might just believe us.Creo que es algo exagerado pero puede que nos crean.
There was no way we could win by any stretch of the imagination.Ni por asomo podríamos ganar.
a. el reto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Given our experience in the business, the move is not a real stretch for the company.Dada nuestra experiencia en el negocio, el paso que damos no es en realidad un reto para la compañía.
17. (slang) (time in prison)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
a. la condena (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He did a ten-year stretch and when they let him out he wasn't the same.Cumplió una condena de diez años y cuando lo soltaron ya no era el mismo.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
18. (flexible)
a. elástico
She bought a pair of stretch pants for her yoga class.Compró un pantalón elástico para su clase de yoga.
Examples
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Conjugations
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