Outstretch

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /aʊtˈstɹɛt͡ʃ/

Definitions

1. To extend a part of the body or an object outward or forward to reach or display something
2. To stretch out a limb or item away from the main body or central point
3. To spread or reach outward by lengthening or expanding an arm, hand, or similar thing

Etymology: "Outstretch" is a plain compound: the prefix "out-" added to "stretch," with the sense of extending something outward. The verb entered Middle English as "outstrecchen," built the same way, and the pattern is widespread in the Germanic languages. Dutch "uitstrekken," German "ausstrecken," and Swedish "utsträcka" all combine the same kind of outward prefix with a stretching verb, so the English word is one member of a family of matching formations. The meaning follows the literal picture closely. To outstretch a hand or an arm is to extend it away from the body until it is fully reached out, which is why the word is so often applied to limbs. The "out-" does the directional work, while "stretch" supplies the idea of lengthening or pulling something taut.

Synonyms: extend, stretch, sprawl, reach

Antonyms: contract, retract