English Dictionary

Definition of “length

length (lɛŋkθPronunciation for length;lɛŋθPronunciation for length

Definitions

noun

  1. the linear extent or measurement of something from end to end, usually being the longest dimension or, for something fixed, the longest horizontal dimension
  2. the extent of something from beginning to end, measured in some more or less regular units or intervals  ⇒ the book was 600 pages in length 
  3. a specified distance, esp between two positions or locations  ⇒ the length of a race 
  4. a period of time, as between specified limits or moments
  5. something of a specified, average, or known size or extent measured in one dimension, often used as a unit of measurement  ⇒ a length of cloth 
  6. a piece or section of something narrow and long  ⇒ a length of tubing 
  7. the quality, state, or fact of being long rather than short
  8. (usually plural) the amount of trouble taken in pursuing or achieving something (esp in the phrase to great lengths)
  9. (often plural) the extreme or limit of action (in phrases such as to any length(s), to what length(s) would someone go, etc)
  10. prosody phonetics the metrical quantity or temporal duration of a vowel or syllable
  11. the distance from one end of a rectangular swimming bath to the other Compare width (sense 4)
  12. prosody the quality of a vowel, whether stressed or unstressed, that distinguishes it from another vowel of similar articulatory characteristics. Thus () in English the quality of a vowel, whether stressed or unstressed, that distinguishes it from another vowel of similar articulatory characteristics. Thus () in English beat  is of greater length than () in English the quality of a vowel, whether stressed or unstressed, that distinguishes it from another vowel of similar articulatory characteristics. Thus () in English is of greater length than () in English bit
  13. cricket the distance from the batsman at which the ball pitches
  14. bridge a holding of four or more cards in a suit
  15. New Zealand informal the general idea; the main purpose
  16. See at length

Word Origin

Old English lengthu;  related to Middle Dutch lengede,  Old Norse lengd

Translations

  • British English: length Pronunciation for length The length of something is the amount that it measures from one end to the other.It is about a metre in length.lɛŋkθ; lɛŋθ NOUN It is about a metre in length.
  • Spanish: longitud Pronunciation for longitud nf
  • French: longueur Pronunciation for longueur nf
  • German: Länge Pronunciation for Länge nf
  • Chinese: 长度Pronunciation for 长度 n
  • Arabic: طُولٌPronunciation for طُولٌ n
  • Portuguese: comprimentoPronunciation for comprimento nm
  • Russian: длинаPronunciation for длина nf
  • Croatian: dužinaPronunciation for dužina nf
  • Czech: délkaPronunciation for délka nf
  • Danish: længdePronunciation for længde nutr
  • Dutch: lengtePronunciation for lengte nf
  • Finnish: pituusPronunciation for pituus n
  • Greek: μήκοςPronunciation for μήκος nnt
  • Italian: lunghezzaPronunciation for lunghezza nf
  • Japanese: 長さPronunciation for 長さ n
  • Korean: 길이Pronunciation for 길이 n
  • Norwegian: lengdePronunciation for lengde nm
  • Polish: długośćPronunciation for długość nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: comprimentoPronunciation for comprimento nm
  • European Spanish: longitud Pronunciation for longitud nf
  • Swedish: längdPronunciation for längd nutr
  • Thai: ความยาวPronunciation for ความยาว n
  • Turkish: uzunlukPronunciation for uzunluk n
  • Vietnamese: chiều dàiPronunciation for chiều dài n

Usage examples

  • Instead, she designed a beautiful conservatory that runs the length of both properties, linking them along the back.
    Val McDermid, KICK BACK (2002)
  • We once travelled the length of the country with only two forks in the entire restaurant car.
    Country Life (2004)
  • His liking for Augusta National, however, remains steadfast, despite controversial changes which have added 285 yards to its length.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Depending on an employee's length of service, redundancy claims can be substantial.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The wave caught the stern of Team Jaguar and the yacht nose-dived almost half its length before being tossed sideways.
    Rob Mundle, FATAL STORM (2001)

Browse dictionary