length

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.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:
, / , , / , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Length — is the long dimension of any object. The length of a thing is the distance between its ends, its linear extent as measured from end to end. This may be distinguished from height, which is vertical extent, and width or breadth, which are the… …   Wikipedia

  • Length — (l[e^]ngth), n. [OE. lengthe, AS. leng[eth], fr. lang, long, long; akin to D. lengte, Dan. l[ae]ngde, Sw. l[ a]ngd, Icel. lengd. See {Long}, a. ] 1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from {breadth} or {width}; extent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • -length — [leŋkth, leŋth] combining form forming adjectives of a (specified) length, of such length as to reach a (specified) point or part [full length] * * * …   Universalium

  • Length — Length, v. t. To lengthen. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • length — /lengkth, length, lenth/, n. 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,… …   Universalium

  • length — noun (plural lengths) Etymology: Middle English lengthe, from Old English lengthu, from lang long Date: before 12th century 1. a. the longer or longest dimension of an object b. a measured distance or dimension < 10 feet in length > see metric… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • length — See: AT LENGTH, GO TO ANY LENGTH, KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM S LENGTH …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • length — See: AT LENGTH, GO TO ANY LENGTH, KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM S LENGTH …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • length — noun /lɛŋθ/ a) The measurement of distance along the longest dimension of an object. Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length. b) duration The length of a book …   Wiktionary

  • length of — see ..... length …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • Length contraction — Length contraction, according to Hendrik Lorentz, is the physical phenomenon of a decrease in length detected by an observer in objects that travel at any non zero velocity relative to that observer. This contraction (more formally called Lorentz …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”