26984 words

length

14 definitions • 22 examples
1
the measurement of something from end to end or along its longest side:

Examples:

in length The boat is ten metres in length.
The length of the bay is approximately 200 miles.
(along) the length of She planted rose bushes (along) the length of the fence (= the whole distance along it).
2
a piece of something such as string or pipe:

Examples:

a length of rope
3
a unit used in describing the distance by which a horse or boat wins a race, equal to the measurement from one end of the horse or boat to the other:

Examples:

We won by two lengths.
4
the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the other:

Examples:

She swims 40 lengths a day.
5
in cricket, the distance that the ball travels before it bounces after it has been bowled (= thrown to the batter):

Examples:

He needs to bring his length back a bit as he's getting driven too much.
I was deceived by the length of the delivery which was much fuller than I had expected.
6
the amount of time something lasts:

Examples:

the length of a film/speech/play
length of time He is unable to concentrate on his work for any length of time (= for anything more than a short time).
7
the amount of writing in a book or document:

Examples:

He's written books of various lengths on the subject.
All of your essays will be about the same length.
8
for a long time:

Examples:

at great length George went on at great length about his various illnesses.
9
If something happens at length, it happens after a long period of time:

Examples:

At length, the authorities allowed her to go home.
10
long enough to reach the stated place:

Examples:

a knee-length skirt
shoulder-length hair
11
of the stated amount of time:

Examples:

a full-length movie (= one which has not been shortened)
12
the measurement of something from end to end or along its longest side, or a measurement of a particular part of something:

Examples:

[ C ] a length of rope
[ U ] The boat is 20 feet in length.
13
The length of a piece of writing, such as a book or story, is a measure of the material it contains:

Examples:

[ U ] The length of the poem was 30 lines.
14
an amount of time:

Examples:

The movie is nearly three hours in length.
George went on about his illnesses at great/some length (= for a long time).

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