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

"We more or less went voluntarily," the former careworker, 63, told AFP at a community centre kitted out with stretcher beds for a handful of evacuees, including herself and husband Ulrich.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

A team of veterinarians rushed to assist the visibly feeble creature, giving him water before carrying him away on a stretcher.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

With Youssef Chermiti being taken off on a stretcher on the day it was revealed Rangers had rejected a big-money offer for the striker, that may complicate matters further.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Ngake left that contest on a stretcher, having passed out moments after a successful 121kg lift.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

“Well, my brave boys, prepare a stretcher for me!”

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

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

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

AFP journalists at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital saw several adults and children being carried in on stretchers or by their arms and legs.

From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026

Relatives wept openly, clutching phones and identity cards, while medical teams hurried stretchers through the packed corridors.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025

Footage aired on Al Jazeera showed Palestinian casualties being taken on stretchers in ambulances Saturday morning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2025

Stretcher-bearers came in all the time, put their stretchers down, unloaded them and went away.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

Meanwhile, defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with a serious knee injury in the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

The unused veteran was stretchered off and taken to hospital for surgery after hurting himself hurdling an advertising board in the victory celebrations.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Milan, who lost Matteo Gabbia to a muscle problem in the warm-up, suffered another blow early on at the San Siro when Ruben Loftus-Cheek had to be stretchered off with a head injury.

From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026

The Indianapolis Colts continued their strong start, improving to 5-1 with a 31-27 home victory over the Arizona Cardinals -- who saw tight end Travis Vokolek stretchered off early with a frightening neck injury.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2025

He was clearly discomforted by the swelling on his foot and had to be stretchered from the field.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2025