ADJ

great, huge, large, long, open, vast, wide
A great stretch of ocean lay beneath them
narrow, short, small
straight
a straight stretch of road
continuous, unbroken
beautiful, lovely
deserted, empty, lonely
an empty stretch of beach
fast
dangerous, hazardous
coastal
a wild uninhabited coastal stretch

PREP

along a/the ~
There are tailbacks along a 10-mile stretch of the motorway
on a/the ~
The festival is being held on a stretch of parkland near the river
~ of

ADJ

good
gentle

VERB + STRETCH

have
Have a good stretch from time to time to prevent yourself getting stiff

PHRASES

at full stretch
Her arms were at full stretch

ADV

taut/tautly, tight/tightly
Make sure that the rope is stretched tight. Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame

PREP

across, between, over
Striped awnings had been stretched across the courtyard

ADV

gently
lazily, luxuriously
He stirred and stretched lazily
full-length
Andrea turned out the light and stretched full-length on the bed
down, forwards, out, up, upwards
She stretched up to reach the top shelf

ADV

far
The wood does not stretch very far
endlessly
ahead, away
The road stretched ahead

VERB + STRETCH

seem to
The beach seemed to stretch endlessly

PREP

along, beyond, for
The beach stretches for five miles
from, into, to
an area which stretches from London to the north

ADV

endlessly
back, out
The town's history stretches back to before 1500

PREP

before
Endless summer days stretched out before us
into
The talks look set to stretch into a second week

ADV

really
fully
We can't take on any more work?we're fully stretched as it is

PREP

to
This department is stretched to its limit