Dictionary
length
Pronunciation: (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.
