length

length [ leŋθ ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount a measurement of how long something is in size:

Cut the cloth to the required length.

This beautiful bird is small, with a total length of about three inches.

The length of your swimming pool is not important.

of equal/unequal length: Use two planks of unequal length.

in length: The boat was 16 feet in length.

a ) a measurement of how long something is in time:

The length of your talk must be at least 10 minutes.

The average length of stay in hospital is three days.

length of time: You can adjust the length of time that the light remains on.

for any length of time (=for a long period of time): When standing for any length of time, remember to flex your knees.

b ) a measurement of how big a book or piece of writing is:

His latest novel is twice the length of his previous one.

2. ) count usually singular the distance from one end of something to the other:

Carter ran half the length of the pitch to score a brilliant goal.

along something's length: The pier was lit up along its entire length.

run the length of something (=go from one end to the other): A proposed tourist trail will run the length of the river.

a ) the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the other. The distance from one side of a swimming pool to the other is a width.

3. ) count a piece of something that is long and thin:

a length of pipe/rope/string

4. ) count a measure of how far one car, horse, etc. is in front of another in a race, usually equal to the length of one car, horse, etc.:

He still managed to finish seven lengths ahead of the rest.

at length LITERARY

after a long time:

At length, the day came on which we were to leave.

at (great/some) length

for a long time and with a lot of detail:

Austin was questioned at length by detectives.

The matter will be discussed at greater length this evening.

go to great/extreme/any etc. lengths

to try in a very determined or unreasonable way to achieve something:

They have gone to great lengths to make us feel welcome.

The lengths that some people will go to (=the extreme things they will do) to get a ticket!

the length and breadth of something

in every part of a large area:

We've searched the length and breadth of the country for an appropriate location.