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étirer

to stretch

verb eh-tee-REH Rare

Origin: from Old French 'estirer', from 'tirer' (to pull)

Also means

to drag out

Usage Note

Étirer is used reflexively as s'étirer to describe stretching one's body or yawning-and-stretching upon waking. It also applies to materials being stretched or time being drawn out. The noun étirement refers to a stretching exercise, common in sports warm-ups.

Examples

"Elle s'étire avant de commencer sa course."

Natural Translation

She stretches before starting her run.

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