Meaning & use
stretch of land
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
a long, continuous area of ground, especially one seen as extending in one direction
Grammar: Countable: use 'a stretch of land' for one area and 'stretches of land' for several.
Patterns
- a stretch of land
- a long/wide stretch of land
- a stretch of land along something
- stretches of land
From the hill we could see a wide stretch of land reaching to the sea.
The farmer bought a long stretch of land beside the river.
Villages are scattered along this narrow stretch of land between the mountains and the coast.
phrasecountable
a piece of land that belongs to someone or is used for a particular purpose
Grammar: Often followed by 'belonging to' or a purpose phrase: 'a stretch of land used for grazing'.
Patterns
- a stretch of land belonging to someone
- a stretch of land used for something
They own a small stretch of land behind the station.
A stretch of land used for growing wheat runs along the road.
Word forms
| plural | stretches of land |
|---|
Common combinations
- a long stretch of land
- A long stretch of land separates the two towns.
- a narrow stretch of land
- Only a narrow stretch of land connects the island to the shore.
- a wide stretch of land
- A wide stretch of land lay between the forest and the hills.
- a stretch of land along the coast
- We walked a quiet stretch of land along the coast.
- a stretch of open land
- Beyond the fence there is a stretch of open land.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tract
- More formal and often used for large areas, as in 'a tract of forest'; 'stretch of land' is more everyday and stresses length.
- strip
- Suggests something long and narrow, so it fits a thin piece of land better than a general area.
- expanse
- Used for very large, open areas you can see across, such as an expanse of desert; it sounds more literary.
- plot
- Refers to a measured piece of land, often for building or gardening, and says nothing about length.
Word family
Commonly confused: stretch of land or patch of land?
stretch of land vs patch of land
A patch is a small, often irregular area, while a stretch of land is long and continuous.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'stretch of land' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'Stretch of land' describes a long area of ground, so it fits a landscape sentence. The other options treat it as food, advice, or a singer, which do not match its meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stretch of land”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.