1. To extend or expand outward or away from someone or something. The river suddenly opened up as it joined the ocean, the water stretching away from us for miles and miles. Lush green fields stretch away from my grandfather's cabin as far as the eye can see.

2. To extend something outward or away (from someone or something). In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "stretch" and "away." I stretched the phone away from my ear in alarm when she started shouting on the other end. She stretched the animal away from her body to keep it from scratching or biting her.

3. To transport someone away from in a stretcher. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stretch" and "away." Dozens of EMTs began stretching survivors away from the accident to administer some emergency treatment. The last thing I saw was the doctors stretching your mother away from her room.