I. prō.ˈtrakt, prə.ˈ- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin protractus, past participle of protrahere to draw before, protract, from pro- pro- (I) + trahere to draw — more at trace
1. archaic : to put off to a later time : delay , defer
attempted, however, to prevent, or at least to protract , his ruin — Edward Gibbon
2. : to draw out or lengthen in time or space : continue , prolong
the trial must not be protracted in duration by anything that is obstructive or dilatory — R.H.Jackson
3. : to draw to a scale : lay down the lines and angles of with scale and protractor : plot
Synonyms: see extend
II. transitive verb
: to extend forward or outward
the mandible is protracted and retracted in chewing