To extend or lengthen something by pulling or expanding it beyond its normal size. Also means to reach or extend over a distance or period of time.
From Old English 'streccan' meaning 'to stretch, extend,' related to Proto-Germanic 'strakkjan.' Connected to 'strict' and 'strain' through Indo-European roots. The temporal sense ('stretch of time') developed in Middle English, while the physical exercise meaning emerged in the 20th century.
The physics of stretching reveals fascinating material properties - some substances return to their original shape (elastic), others permanently deform (plastic), and a few, like silly putty, behave differently depending on how quickly you stretch them. This behavior, called viscoelasticity, explains why the same material can act like a liquid or solid.
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