Dictionary![]() ![]() lengthPronunciation: (lengkth, length, lenth), [key] —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, 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. Pros., Phonet. a. (of a vowel or syllable) quantity, whether long or short. b. the quality of vowels. 13. Bridge.the possession of four or more than four cards in a given suit. 14. Theat. Archaic.42 lines of an acting part. 15. at length, a. in or to the full extent; completely. b. after a time; finally: At length there was a step forward in the negotiations. 16. go to any length or 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. See arm 1 (def. 16). Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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