מָתַח (b. h.) to extend, stretch (cmp. משך, משח). Kil. VI, 9 המוֹתֵחַ זמורה וכ׳ if one trains a vine from one tree to another. Sabb. 75ᵃ המותח חוט וכ׳ he who pulls the thread of a seam (bringing the ends closer together), v. infra. Gen. R. s. 3, a. e. שלא תאמר מיכאל היה מותח וכ׳ lest you say, Michael stretched (the world) in the south &c., v. מָדַד; Midr. Till. to Ps. XXIV מְמַתֵּחַ. Y. Ber. I, 2ᵈ top אדם מותח אהל וכ׳ when one stretches a tent-cover, in course of time it becomes loose; Gen. R. s. 12, end; Yalk. Is. 314.—Gen. R. s. 10, end, v. Nif.—[Yalk. Prov. 961 סופו להיות מותח v. מָתַק.]—Part. pass. מָתוּחַ; f. מְתוּחָה; pl. מְתוּחִים, מְתוּחִין; מְתוּחוֹת stretched, extended; (of a bow) bent; trnsf. (of judgment) ready to be discharged, aimed. Kel. XXI, 3. Gen. R. s. 35 אותה מדת הדין שהיתה מ׳ כנגד … ומְתָחָהּ וכ׳ that very judgment which was aimed against Israel, did the Lord turn and aim against the Egyptians. Y. M. Kat. III, 83ᶜ top הדין מ׳ כנגד וכ׳ judgment is ready against the whole family. Pesik. R. s. 38; a. fr.
    Pi. - מִיתֵּחַ same, esp. to straiten straps; to bring objects closer together. M. Kat. I, 8 אף מְמַתְּהִין you may also straigten (bed-straps). Ib. 10ᵃ וממתחין שאם … מְמַתְּחוֹ ‘you may stretch’, means when it (a strap) is lax, you may straiten it; Y. ib. I, 80ᵈ bot. Tosef. Kel. B. Bath. IV, 10 מחוסרין … למַתֵּחַ need … stretching. Midr. Till. l. c., v. supra.—Y. Sabb. XIII, beg. 14ᵃ המְמַתֵּחַ צדדין (ed. Krot. הממחה צדדיו, corr. acc.) he who brings the ends of two pieces close together (by pulling the thread up and knotting it), v. supra; Y. Kil. IX, end, 32ᵈ המְמַתֵּיחַ צדדין (or המַמְתִּיחַ Hif.; not צדדיו); a. e.
    Nif. - נִמְתַּח to be stretched, spread, drawn. Snh. 38ᵇ נִמְתְּחוּ אבריו his limbs were stretched (shaped); (Ab. d’ R. N. ch. I נתקשרו); Yalk. Gen. 15. Ib. 16 היו נִמְתָּחִין והולכין (ib. also מוֹתְחִין; Gen. R. s. 10, end מותחין) they (the works of creation) continued to extend (develop). Y. Ber. I, 2ᶜ bot. יִמָּתֵחַ הרקיע (or יִמְתַּח) let the firmament be stretched out. R. Hash. 22ᵇ יִמָּתֵחַ על העמוד shall be stretched on the pillory. Y. Hor. II, 46ᵈ נִמְתְּחָה הקשת the bow was bent (euphem. for erection). Yalk. Ps. 796 נמתחה החרב the sword (of judgment) was drawn; (Tanḥ. B’midb. 7 נמשכה; ib. ed. Bub. 7 נשמטה).
    Hithpa. - הִתְמַתֵּחַ same. Tanḥ. Ḥayé 3 והיו הולכין ומִתְמַתְּחִין וכ׳ they would have gone on spreading &c.