length

[lengkth, length, lenth] /lɛŋkθ, lɛŋθ, lɛnθ/
noun
1.
the longest extent of anything as measured from end to end:
the length of a river.
2.
the measure of the greatest dimension of a plane or solid figure.
3.
extent from beginning to end of a series, enumeration, account, book, etc.:
a report running 300 pages in length.
4.
extent in time; duration:
the length of a battle.
5.
a distance determined by the extent of something specified:
Hold the picture at arm's length.
6.
a piece or portion of a certain or a known extent:
a length of rope.
7.
the quality or state of being long rather than short:
a journey remarkable for its length.
8.
the extent to which a person might or would go in pursuing something:
He went to great lengths to get what he wanted.
9.
a large extent or expanse of something.
10.
the measure from end to end of a horse, boat, etc., as a unit of distance in racing:
The horse won by two lengths.
11.
Clothing. the extent of a garment related to a point it reaches, as on the wearer's body, the floor, or on a garment used as a standard of measurement (usually used in combination):
an ankle-length gown; a floor-length negligee; a three-quarter-length coat.
12.
Prosody, Phonetics.
  1. (of a vowel or syllable) quantity, whether long or short.
  2. the quality of vowels.
13.
Bridge. the possession of four or more than four cards in a given suit.
14.
Theater Archaic. 42 lines of an acting part.
Idioms
15.
at length,
  1. in or to the full extent; completely.
  2. after a time; finally:
    At length there was a step forward in the negotiations.
16.
go to any length / lengths, to disregard any impediment that could prevent one from accomplishing one's purpose:
He would go to any lengths to get his own way.
17.
keep at arm's length. arm1 (def 16).
Origin
before 900; Middle English length(e), Old English lengthu; cognate with Dutch lengte, Old Norse lengd. See long1, -th1
Synonyms
1. span, stretch, reach, scope, measure.
Examples from the web for length
  • For even spacing, measure the distance between plants with a piece of wood of the desired length.
  • These intentionally confusing spaces are created in part by a long void that cuts through the length and height of the museum.
  • Add the length, width and height of your luggage to obtain its total dimensions.
  • Dimensional length is the sum of the object's length, height and width.
  • After packing, measure the height, width and length of your bags and weigh them to ensure they fit the guidelines of your airline.
  • The extent of subdivision will vary with the length of the composition.
  • The limit is presumed to occur because the structures at the end of chromosomes, called telomeres, reach a critical length.
  • The true test of its value is not the length and density of its expression, it is the consequent actions.
  • They also controlled for income, education, race and length of relationship.
  • But don't be fooled by the notion that on the autumnal equinox the length of day is exactly equal to the length of night.
British Dictionary definitions for length

length

/lɛŋkθ; lɛŋθ/
noun
1.
the linear extent or measurement of something from end to end, usually being the longest dimension or, for something fixed, the longest horizontal dimension
2.
the extent of something from beginning to end, measured in some more or less regular units or intervals: the book was 600 pages in length
3.
a specified distance, esp between two positions or locations: the length of a race
4.
a period of time, as between specified limits or moments
5.
something of a specified, average, or known size or extent measured in one dimension, often used as a unit of measurement: a length of cloth
6.
a piece or section of something narrow and long: a length of tubing
7.
the quality, state, or fact of being long rather than short
8.
(usually pl) the amount of trouble taken in pursuing or achieving something (esp in the phrase to great lengths)
9.
(often pl) the extreme or limit of action (in phrases such as to any length(s), to what length(s) would someone go, etc)
10.
(prosody, phonetics) the metrical quantity or temporal duration of a vowel or syllable
11.
the distance from one end of a rectangular swimming bath to the other Compare width (sense 4)
12.
(prosody) the quality of a vowel, whether stressed or unstressed, that distinguishes it from another vowel of similar articulatory characteristics. Thus (iː) in English beat is of greater length than (ɪ) in English bit
13.
(cricket) the distance from the batsman at which the ball pitches
14.
(bridge) a holding of four or more cards in a suit
15.
(NZ, informal) the general idea; the main purpose
16.
at length
  1. in depth; fully
  2. eventually
  3. for a long time; interminably
Word Origin
Old English lengthu; related to Middle Dutch lengede, Old Norse lengd
Word Origin and History for length
n.

Old English lengðu "length," from Proto-Germanic *langitho, noun of quality from *langgaz (root of Old English lang; see long) + *-itho, abstract noun suffix (see -th (2)).

Cognate with Old Norse lengd, Old Frisian lengethe, Dutch lengte. Figurative sense of "the distance one goes, extremity to which something is carried" is from 1690s. Phrase at length "to full extent" is attested from c.1500.

length in Medicine

length (lěngkth, lěngth)
n.
The linear distance between two points.

Slang definitions & phrases for length

length

noun

Female sexual gratification (1968+)


Idioms and Phrases with length

length

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