stretching

Etymology 1

From Middle English strecching, strecchinge, equivalent to stretch + -ing.

noun

1. The act by which something is stretched.
   [Skins] must be submitted to several washings, treadings, and stretchings, before they acquire the necessary pliancy. 1859, Victor Regnault, Elements of Chemistry
2. A form of physical exercise in which a specific skeletal muscle (or muscle group) is deliberately elongated to its fullest length in order to improve the muscle's felt elasticity and reaffirm comfortable muscle tone.

Etymology 2

From Middle English strecchinge, strecchynge, from Old English streċċende, from Proto-West Germanic *strakkjandī, present participle of *strakkjan (“to stretch”), equivalent to stretch + -ing.

adj

1. Requiring a high level of effort or performance.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of stretch