I. ˈlȯŋ adjective
( lon·ger lȯŋ-gər also -ər ; lon·gest ˈlȯŋ-gəst also -əst)
Etymology: Middle English long, lang, from Old English; akin to Old High German lang long, Latin longus
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : extending for a considerable distance
b. : having greater length than usual
a long corridor
c. : having greater height than usual : tall
d. : having a greater length than breadth : elongated
e. : having a greater length than desirable or necessary
the column is one line too long
f. : full-length
long pants
2.
a. : having a specified length
six feet long
b. : forming the chief linear dimension
the long side of the room
3.
a. : extending over a considerable time
a long friendship
b. : having a specified duration
two hours long
c. : prolonged beyond the usual time
a long look
d. : lasting too long : tedious
a long explanation
4.
a. : containing many items in a series
a long list
b. : having a specified number of units
300 pages long
c. : consisting of a greater number or amount than usual : large
5.
a. of a speech sound : having a relatively long duration
b. : being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel long in duration
long a in fate
long i in sign
c. of a syllable in prosody
(1) : of relatively extended duration
(2) : bearing a stress or accent
6. : having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance
a long left jab
tried to hit the long ball
7. : larger or longer than the standard
a long count by the referee
8.
a. : extending far into the future
the thoughts of youth are long , long thoughts — H. W. Longfellow
b. : extending beyond what is known
a long guess
c. : payable after a considerable period
a long note
9. : possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified : strong
long on common sense
10.
a. : of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side
long odds
b. : of or relating to the larger amount wagered
take the long end of the bet
11. : subject to great odds
12. : owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices
they are now long on wheat
take a long position in steel
• long·ness ˈlȯŋ-nəs noun
•
- long in the tooth
- not long for
II. adverb
Date: before 12th century
1. : for or during a long time
long a popular hangout
2. : at or to a long distance : far
long -traveled
3. : for the duration of a specified period
month -long
all summer long
4. : at a point of time far before or after a specified moment or event
was excited long before the big day
5. : after or beyond a specified or implied time
didn't stay long er than midnight
said it was no long er possible
6. : for a considerable distance
threw the ball long
7. : in or into a long position (as on a market)
•
- so long
III. noun
Date: before 12th century
1. : a long period of time
2. : a long syllable
3. : one taking a long position especially in a security or commodity market
4.
a. plural : long trousers
b. : a size in clothing for tall men
•
- the long and short
IV. intransitive verb
( longed ; long·ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English langian; akin to Old High German langēn to long, Old English lang long
Date: before 12th century
: to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained
they long for peace
long ing to return home
• long·er ˈlȯŋ-ər noun
Synonyms:
long , yearn , hanker , pine , hunger , thirst mean to have a strong desire for something. long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain
longed for some rest
yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing
yearned for a stage career
hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire
always hankering for money
pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible
pined for a lost love
hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need
hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power
V. intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from along ( on ) because (of)
Date: 13th century
archaic : to be suitable or fitting
VI. abbreviation
longitude