French Conversation · Level 16
89 words
French word
étirer
Pronunciation
IPA/etiʁe/
Meaning
- verbstretch
Example
Il faut étirer tes muscles avant de courir.
You have to stretch your muscles before running.
More examples
Après le sport, je m'étire doucement.
After exercising, I stretch gently.
Core concept
Something is drawn outward until its length or duration visibly increases.
Common phrases
étirer les muscles
stretch the muscles
étirer les jambes
stretch the legs
étirer les bras
stretch the arms
Similar words
tirer: To use force to draw something toward oneself.
tendre: To stretch something until it is held tight and smooth.
allonger: To increase the length of a body or object.
prolonger: To make something last for a longer period.
Definition in French
Tirer quelque chose pour augmenter sa longueur ou son étendue; s'employer aussi au sens figuré pour prolonger une action.
Word origin
The Old French verb estirer, related to tirer, gave French étirer the sense of pulling something longer and later supported figurative uses.
Usage tips
- French uses étirer with time or conversation in expressions such as étirer le temps and étirer la conversation for prolonging them.
Other meanings
- extendverb
- lengthenverb
Opposites
- raccourcirshortenverb
- contractercontractverb
Related words
- étirementstretchingnoun
- étiréstretchedadjective
- étirablestretchableadjective