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Widen vs Stretch - What's the difference?

widen | stretch | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between widen and stretch

is that widen is to become wide or wider while stretch is to extend to a limit point.

In transitive terms the difference between widen and stretch

is that widen is to broaden or extend in scope or range while stretch is to increase.

As a noun stretch is

an act of stretching.

widen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To become wide or wider.
  • His eyes widened as her negligee fell to the floor.
  • To make wide or wider.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=But he still saw his side produce a rousing display which owed much to their lauded prowess from set-pieces, despite Uefa regulations meaning the pitch had to be widened and, in the process, the run-up area for Delap's long throws reduced.}}
  • To let out clothes to a larger size.
  • She widened his trousers for him.
  • To broaden or extend in scope or range.
  • The police widened their enquiries.

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs

    stretch

    English

    Verb

  • (label) To lengthen by pulling.
  • (label) To lengthen when pulled.
  • * Boyle
  • The inner membrane because it would stretch and yield, remained unbroken.
  • (label) To pull tight.
  • To get more use than expected from a limited resource.
  • To make inaccurate by exaggeration.
  • (label) To extend physically, especially from limit point to limit point.
  • * , chapter=1
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path […]. It twisted and turned,
  • To extend one’s limbs or another part of the body in order to improve the elasticity of one's muscles
  • (label) To extend to a limit point
  • (label) To increase.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 29, author=Neil Johnston, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Norwich 3-3 Blackburn , passage=Yakubu took advantage of John Ruddy's error to put the visitors back in front, with Chris Samba's header stretching their advantage.}}
  • To stretch the truth; to exaggerate.
  • a man apt to stretch in his report of facts
  • (label) To sail by the wind under press of canvas.
  • The ship stretched to the eastward.

    Noun

    (es)
  • An act of stretching.
  • I was right in the middle of a stretch when the phone rang.
    To say crossing the street was brave was quite a stretch.
  • The ability to lengthen when pulled.
  • That rubber band has quite a bit of stretch.
  • A course of thought which diverts from straightforward logic, or requires extraordinary belief.
  • It's a bit of a stretch to call Boris Karloff a comedian.
  • A segment of a journey or route.
  • It was an easy trip except for the last stretch , which took forever.
  • (label) A quick pitching delivery used when runners are on base where the pitcher slides his leg instead of lifting it.
  • (label) A long reach in the direction of the ball with a foot remaining on the base by a first baseman in order to catch the ball sooner.
  • A length of time.
  • He did a 7-year stretch in jail.
  • *
  • After the harvest there was a stretch of clear dry weather, and the animals toiled harder than ever
  • (label) A term of address for a tall person
  • * 2007 , Michael Farrell, Running with Buffalo
  • *:“Hey, Stretch ,” he shouted at a tall, spectacled co-worker, “turn the fucking station, will you? You know I can't stand Rush, and it's all they play on this one. If I hear those assholes whine 'Tom Sawyer' one more time, I may go on a fucking killing spree.
  • Derived terms

    {{der3, at full stretch , by a long stretch , cat stretch , outstretch , overstretch , seventh inning stretch , stretchable , stretch limo , stretch of the imagination , stretch mark , stretch out , stretch pants , stretcher , stretchy}}