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from Stretch, v. Stretching course (Masonry), a course or series of stretchers. See Stretcher, 2. Britton.

rizontal timbers of a building or ship. The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks. Totten.

A series of muscular contractions due to sudden stretching of the muscle, -- a sign of certain neuropathies.

A gripping device, as for stretching wire, etc., consisting of two jaws so attached to a ring that they are closed by pulling on the ring.

The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or in all directions; the state of being Distended; as, the distention of the lungs.

The process of stretching or spreading metals as by hammering, or, as in forming wire from rods or tubes and cups from sheet metal, by pulling them through dies.

d other gases and vapors. -- Elastic limit (Mech.), the limit of distortion, by bending, stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly propo…

Anything which causes expansion esp. (Mech.) a tool for stretching open or expanding a tube, etc.

The act of extending or the state of being extended; a stretching out; enlargement in breadth or continuation of length; increase; augmentation; expansion.

keepig of sheep in inclosures on arable land, etc. Folding boat, a portable boat made by stretching canvas, etc., over jointed framework, used in campaigning, and by tourists, etc. Ham. Nav. Encyc. Folding chairFolding door, one of two or more doors filling a single and hung upon hinges.

The Milky Way; that luminous tract, or belt, which is seen at night stretching across the heavens, and which is composed of innumerable stars, so distant and blended as to be distinguishable only with the telescope. The term has recently been used for remote clusters of stars. Nichol.

Stone forming the hearth; hence, the fireside; home. Chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone. A. Lincoln.

A straining, stretching, or bending; the state of being strained; as, the intension of a musical string.

A stretching or bending of the mind toward of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness. Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness, and of choice, fixes its view on any idea. Locke.

A rail of wood or iron stretching along a yard of a vessel, to which the sails are fastened.

levations. [Also karoo.] The Great Karroo, or The Karroo, a vast plateau, in Cape Colony, stretching through five degrees of longitude, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet.

e business it is to shape boots or shoes, or place leather smoothly, on lasts; a tool for stretching leather on a last.

ent threadlike axis cylinder which is continuous the whole length of the fiber. -- Nerve stretching (Med.), the operation of stretching a nerve in order to remedy diseases such as tetanus, which are supposed to be influenced by the condition of the nerve or its connections.

A stretching and stiffening of the trunk and extremities, as when fatigued and drowsy.

The act of stretching forth.