stretcher

American  

[strech-er] / ˈstrɛtʃ ər /

noun

• stretchers
  plural

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a kind of litter, often of canvas stretched on a frame, for carrying the sick, wounded, or dead.

   2. a similar litter on wheels, adapted for use in ambulances and hospitals.

2. a person or thing that stretches.

3. any of various instruments for extending, widening, distending, etc.

4. a bar, beam, or fabricated material, serving as a tie or brace.

5. Masonry. a brick or stone laid in a wall so that its longer edge is exposed or parallel to the surface.

6. a simple wooden framework on which the canvas for an oil painting is stretched.

7. Furniture.

   1. a framework connecting and bracing the legs of a piece of furniture.

   2. one member of this framework.

8. a crosspiece that is set athwart and near the bottom in a small boat, and against which the feet of a rower are braced.

9. one of the thin, sliding rods connecting the canopy and handle of an umbrella.

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verb (used with object)

• stretchers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• stretchered,
  past participle,  past
• stretchering
  present participle

1. to stretch (canvas for a painting) on a stretcher.

stretcher British  

/ ˈstrɛtʃə /

noun

1. a device for transporting the ill, wounded, or dead, consisting of a frame covered by canvas or other material

2. a strengthening often decorative member joining the legs of a chair, table, etc

3. the wooden frame on which canvas is stretched and fixed for oil painting

4. a tie beam or brace used in a structural framework

5. a brick or stone laid horizontally with its length parallel to the length of a wall Compare header

6. rowing a fixed board across a boat on which an oarsman braces his feet

7. a camp bed

8. slang an exaggeration or lie

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verb

1. to transport (a sick or injured person) on a stretcher

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stretchers
  plural

Participles

• stretchering
  present
• stretchered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• stretcher
  simple
• stretchers
  simple
• have stretchered
  perfect
• has stretchered
  perfect
• am stretchering
  progressive
• are stretchering
  progressive
• is stretchering
  progressive
• have been stretchering
  perfect progressive
• has been stretchering
  perfect progressive

Past

• stretchered
  simple
• had stretchered
  perfect
• was stretchering
  progressive
• were stretchering
  progressive
• had been stretchering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stretcher
  simple
• will have stretchered
  perfect
• will be stretchering
  progressive
• will have been stretchering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stretcher

First recorded in 1375–1425, stretcher is from the late Middle English word stretcher. See stretch, -er ¹

Explanation

In a hospital, a stretcher is a device used to carry a person who must lie flat and can't move on their own. It takes two strong people to carry a patient on a stretcher. Although the words are sometimes used interchangeably, a stretcher is different from a gurney, which is fitted with wheels and can be moved by a single person. Stretchers are more portable and tend to be used in emergency situations, especially on battlefields and in wilderness search-and-rescue operations. When an artist, (rather than a doctor or ambulance driver) uses the word stretcher, they generally mean "wooden frame on which a canvas is stretched for painting."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stretcher stretchers stretchered

The spark was ignited on September 23 when 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from her lifelong Madrid home on a stretcher after the real estate firm that owned the apartment drastically hiked the rent.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

The Ducks could only watch as their leader was lifted onto a stretcher and carted from the field.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Every robot that faceplanted, lost a limb, or disintegrated in a spray of sparks was borne away on a stretcher by human attendants with deadpan solicitude.

From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026

It got better when a pair of solemn-looking humans carried the competitor away on a stretcher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

He sent his assistant off at once with a stretcher.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Retrieving busted bots on stretchers, one of the Humanoid Games’ best visual gags, may actually have originated with her league.

From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026

Survivors from Nepal's flood-ravaged districts, some on stretchers, others gently supported by the shoulders, were airlifted to safety on Thursday as the constant roar of helicopters echoed across the devastated town of Bidur.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Laid out on makeshift stretchers, they were carried to a nearby ambulance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

The four men were then seen being laid on stretchers, covered by foil blankets, and receiving medical attention.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

I could see the stretchers being wheeled in, and I could see Mrs. Cadaver looking down at them.

From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech

It was so hot Nicolas Gonzalez, a fan sitting in the shade of the reserved level, saw a stadium attendant, overcome by heat, stretchered before the game even started.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

The 31-year-old Limerick fighter was stretchered out of the ring after the fight and transferred to hospital.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

McMorris, who won bronze in slopestyle at the past three Games, was stretchered off the course in Livigno on Wednesday after his accident in training and taken to hospital as a precaution.

From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026

The 30-year-old was stretchered from the field of play with his face in his hands.

From Barron's ● Dec. 22, 2025

Ioan's mum Nanette, who had seen him being stretchered up the hill, stayed with Bella, only telling her later how bad Ioan's injuries were.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2025