length

plural lengths

1. countableuncountableThe distance measured along the longest dimension of an object.

   Synonyms: distance

2. countableuncountableDuration.

   Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.

   1941, Robert Frost, The Gift Outright

   1 more example

   In equatorial Ecuador, days and nights are almost the same length, and the sun goes down early.

   1990 August, Boyd Gibbons, “Missouri's Garden of Consequence”, in National Geographic, volume 178, number 2, page 130

3. countableuncountablehobbiesThe length of a horse, used to indicate the distance between horses at the end of a race.

   five lengths ahead of the field

4. countableuncountablemathematicsDistance between the two ends of a line segment.
5. countableuncountableball gamesThe distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.
6. countablefigurativelyuncountableTotal extent.

   the length of a book

7. countableuncountablePart of something that is long; a physical piece of something.

   a length of rope

   1 more example

   a length of hair

8. countableslanguncountableA penis.

   , Bride for the Billionaire Bear Shifter His cock felt firm under her palm, and her mouth watered as she imagined wrapping her lips around his length.

9. countableuncountableentertainmentA unit of script length, comprising 42 lines.

   The boy was engaged to write out parts at a penny a length (42 lines) for Chetwood, who then charged the manager, […]

   1960, J. L. Hodgkinson, Rex Pogson, The Early Manchester Theatre, page 45

   1 more example

   […] open your book of the play, which you have previously carefully perused, and at the same time marked with the proper calls, as thus: a length (or 42 lines) before an entrance, with a pen make a figure on the margin, […]

   1890, Henry Austin, Address of Henry Austin Before the Second Nationalist Club, page 38

10. countableuncountablebridgeThe number of cards held in a particular suit.

    An artificial bid doesn't necessarily show length in the suit being bid, it has an altogether different meaning.

    1999, Edwin B. Kantar, Eddie Kantar Teaches Advanced Bridge Defense, page 191

11. countableuncountablebeveragesThe amount of time for which the taste of wine lingers on the palate after swallowing or spitting it out, measured in caudilies.

present singular third person lengths · participle present lengthing · participle past lengthed · past lengthed

1. obsoleteTo lengthen.

   Pack night, peep day; good day, of night now borrow: / Short night, to-night, and length thyself to-morrow.

   2 more examples

   Was never man such favour could off atall ladies fynde, To cause them lengthe or shorte the day which they to hym assynde.

   1552, Richard Huloet, “Ladies of Destinie”, in Abecedarium Anglico-Latinum

   [He] knows full well life doth but length his pain.

   a. 1608, Thomas Sackville, Allegorical Personages described in Hell