The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ELONGATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
E
L
O
N
G
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result ELONGATE
- Villain losing his head on opening stretch
- Stretch limo originally acceptable in key northern street
- Note a leg injured - a stretcher will do
- Stretch out with a gentle novel about love
- Stretch out at first in elegant manoeuvring
- Stretch one leg, at random
- Stretch one leg out introducing a tango
- Stretch a legend, almost to becoming absurd
- Draw out scandal involving fruit, with millions missing?
- Stretch out scandal involving Mister Musk?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Stretch" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case stretch = elongate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ELONGATE mean?
ELONGATE verb- To make long or longer by pulling and stretching; to make elongated.
- To become long or longer by being pulled or stretched; to become elongated.
- To move to or place at a distance (from something).
- To depart to, or be at, a distance (from something); especially, to recede apparently from the sun, as a planet in its orbit.
- Lengthened, extended, elongated; relatively long and slender.