LENGTH


Meaning of LENGTH in English

/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, 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).

[ bef. 900; ME length ( e ), OE lengthu; c. D lengte, ON lengd. See LONG 1 , -TH 1 ]

Syn. 1. span, stretch, reach, scope, measure.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .