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length definition

length (leŋkt̸h, leŋt̸h)

noun

  1. the measure of how long a thing is; measurement of anything from end to end; the greatest of the two or three dimensions of anything
  2. extent in space; distance anything extends
  3. extent in time; duration
  4. a long stretch or extent
  5. the quality, state, or fact of being long
  6. a piece of a certain or standardized length a length of stove pipe
  7. a unit of measure consisting of the length of an object or animal competing in a race to win a boat race by two lengths
  8. Phonet.
    1. the duration of the pronunciation of a vowel the i in bride has greater length than the i in bright
    2. popularly the quality of a vowel
  9. Prosody syllabic quantity

Etymology: ME < OE lengthu < base of lang, long + -th

length Idioms

at full length

stretched out; completely extended

at length

  1. after a long time; finally
  2. in or to the whole extent; in full
  3. for a long time and in great detail

go to any length

to do whatever is necessary; scruple at nothing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms length idiom

medical length definition - medical

length Synonyms

length

n.

  1. Linear distance

    distance, space, measure, span, reach, range, longitude, remoteness, stride, magnitude, compass, portion, dimension, unit, radius, diameter, linearity, longness, mileage, stretch; see also extent.

  2. Extent in space

    extensiveness, spaciousness, ranginess, endlessness, continuance, tallness, height, loftiness, lengthiness, expansion; see also breadth 2, expanse, width.

    Antonyms shortness, nearness*, closeness.

  3. Duration

    period, interval, season, year, month, week, day, minute, continuance, limit, lastingness; see also term 2, time 1.

at full length

extended, stretched out, lengthwise; see long 1.

at length

  1. after a long time, eventually, in the end; see finally 2.

  2. extensively, in full, wholly, without omission; see completely.

go to any length <em>or</strong> go to great lengths

do anything, stop at nothing, achieve by any means; see try 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

length Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • vary: In addition, there is a constant stream of Latin Americanists who visit the Center for periods of varying length.

Adjective modifier

  • focal: A convex lens has a focal length of 150 mm.

Modifies a noun

  • polymorphism: The AFLP ( amplified fragment length polymorphism ) method selectively amplifies restriction fragments from total genomic DNA.

Noun used with modifier

  • stride: Power is required to sprint, the greater the leg power the greater the stride length.

Possessives

  • arm: Light them at arm's length, using a taper.

Preposition: of

  • stay: Average length of stay in hospital over the 2 years = 4 nights.
length usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

length quotes

But Jarndyce and Jarndyce still drags its dreary length before the court, perennially hopeless.

-Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam

   Happiness Makes Up in Height for What It Lacks in Length.

-Frost, Robert Lee

Gertrude Stein's prose song is a cold, black suet- pudding†of fabulously reptilian length.

-Lezama Lima,Jose¤

length quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"length." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/length>

APA Style

length. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/length

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