Spanish word

estirar

Pronunciation

IPA/estiˈɾaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbstretch

Example

Antes de correr, estira los músculos.

Before running, stretch your muscles.

Illustration for estirar (stretch)

More examples

Para aliviar la tensión, estira el cuello varias veces al día.

To relieve tension, stretch your neck several times a day.

Core concept

Person reaching forward to elongate their back and leg muscles.

Common phrases

  • estirar los músculos

    stretch the muscles

  • estirar las piernas

    stretch the legs

Similar words

estirarse: Stretches the body or limbs to lengthen muscles.
extender: Extends a surface or range to make an area larger.
tirar: Pulls an object by applying force in a given direction.

Definition in Spanish

Hacer que algo o una parte del cuerpo aumente su longitud, tirando de ello o relajando y alargando los músculos; también emplear en sentido figurado para prolongar o extender algo en el tiempo o en.

Word origin

The word comes through Old French étirer and Romance cognates and retains the core idea of making muscles or objects longer by pulling or relaxing them.

Usage tips

  • In figurative use, estirar commonly means to prolong or extend something in time or use (estirar el plazo, estirar el presupuesto), so context decides whether it is physical or metaphorical.

Other meanings

  • pullverb
  • extendverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word