[Vocabulary] spread out and stretch out

[dilodi83]

Are there any differences between
1) to stretch out one's arms
AND
2) to spread out one's arms
?

Are they interchangeable?
Ex. During the dance we had to spread/stretch our arms out.
Ex. She spread/stretched out her hand to try to reach the grapes on the other side of the fence.

 

[JohnParis]

Yes there are differences between stretch and spread and, no, they are not interchangeable.
Stretch: to make longer or wider without tearing or breaking : My sweater stretched in the wash. Rubber will stretch easily when pulled.
Spread: to open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length : I spread a towel on the sand and sat down. She helped Chris to spread out the map.

Oxford Dictionary


John

 

[5jj]

During the dance we had to spread/stretch our arms out. It could be either. We would need a full description or a picture to be be sure which was intended.
She [STRIKE]spread[/STRIKE]/stretched out her hand to try to reach the grapes on the other side of the fence. This must be 'stretched'.