stretcher

1 of 2

noun

stretch·​er ˈstre-chər How to pronounce stretcher (audio)
1
a
: one that stretches
especially : a device or machine for stretching or expanding something
b
: an exaggerated story : a tall tale
2
a
: a brick or stone laid with its length parallel to the face of the wall
b
: a timber or rod used especially when horizontal as a tie in framed work
3
: a device for carrying a sick, injured, or dead person
4
: a rod or bar extending between two legs of a chair or table

stretcher

2 of 2

verb

stretchered; stretchering; stretchers

transitive verb

: to carry or transport on a stretcher

Examples of stretcher in a Sentence

Noun They carried her out to the ambulance on a stretcher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Other images showed several people receiving medical attention and being carried away on stretchers. Elias Lopez, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024 Every few minutes, more ambulances arrived in the loading area and wounded people were carried on stretchers to the left by medical workers to the emergency room, part of which is housed in a tent because the hospital can't accommodate all of the injured people inside. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024 There were no stretchers available because all the beds had already been taken, considering that many people were also trying to use the hospital as a shelter or safe space for their families. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2024 Witnesses said people were taken out on stretchers and others had blood on their face. Tom Johanningmeier, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2024 The game was delayed at the seven-minute mark of the second when Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev had to leave the ice on a stretcher after his left leg bent at an awkward angle in a play along the boards in the Tampa Bay end. Allan Kreda, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024 Seven-year-old Zahra Jaber cried for her mother as she was lifted onto the plane on a stretcher. Hala Gorani, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2024 In the early afternoon, ambulances rushed two boys to the emergency department: one bleeding from a bullet wound to his head, and a second, several minutes later, lying pale and still on a stretcher as medics frantically performed CPR. Ruby Mellen, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023 He was carried out of the house unconscious on a stretcher and spent the night in the hospital, the lawsuit states. Lisa Rathke, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2024
Verb
The stool features stability stretchers on the base that double as footrests and create visual interest. Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2024 Downstairs, the hospital’s E.R. was in full, frenetic swing—the nurses drawing blood, the techs gathering vital signs, the doctors migrating from stretcher to stretcher in small teams. Ricardo Nuila, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2023 One person was rescued by firefighters using a rigid basket or stretcher and lowered by a rope system to the ground. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2023 Cut each leg and stretcher slightly oversize and smooth each cut end, bringing the leg to finished dimension. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 16 Jan. 2021 Late in the first quarter of Wednesday's game between the Suns and the Mavericks, Phoenix guard Isaiah Canaan needed to be stretchered off the court after fracturing his left ankle. Khadrice Rollins, SI.com, 1 Feb. 2018 Tottenham are awaiting a fitness update on versatile defender Juan Foyth after the 21-year-old was stretchered off with an ankle injury during the pre-season Audi Cup final against Bayern Munich. SI.com, 1 Aug. 2019 Dortmund's disappointing afternoon ended with Michy Batshuayi being stretchered off in injury time. Afp, chicagotribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018 Laporte was stretchered off in the first half of City’s recent Premier League win over Brighton and subsequently underwent successful surgery. SI.com, 13 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stretcher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stretcher was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near stretcher

Cite this Entry

“Stretcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stretcher. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stretcher

noun
stretch·​er
ˈstrech-ər
1
: one that stretches
especially : a device or machine for stretching or expanding something
2
: a device that resembles a cot and is used for carrying a sick, injured, or dead person

Medical Definition

stretcher

noun
stretch·​er ˈstrech-ər How to pronounce stretcher (audio)
: a device for carrying a sick, injured, or dead person

More from Merriam-Webster on stretcher

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