length

/leɳθ/

Thân thiện

The carpenter measures the length of a wooden board.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The measurement of something from end to end: The longest dimension of an object or the extent of something in space.
   • The amount of time something continues: The duration or continuance of an event or period.
   • A piece of something long and narrow: A section of material, such as rope, cloth, or tubing, that is cut or considered as a unit.
   • The full extent or detail of something: The degree to which something is covered or discussed.

Examples of Usage

• As a measurement:
  • The length of the room is 12 feet.
  • He measured the length of the rope.
• As a duration:
  • The length of the movie was over three hours.
  • She was surprised by the length of his speech.
• As a piece of material:
  • He cut a length of wire for the project.
  • We bought a length of fabric to make curtains.
• Referring to extent or detail:
  • He explained the problem at some length. (Meaning: in detail)
  • The article goes to great length to prove its point.

Advanced Usage

• "at length":
  • Meaning: in detail; after a long time; finally.
  • She spoke at length about her travels. (in detail)
  • At length, the bus arrived. (finally)
• "to go to great lengths":
  • Meaning: to try very hard or to do whatever is necessary to achieve something.
  • He went to great lengths to make her feel welcome.
• "the length and breadth of":
  • Meaning: throughout the whole area of a place.
  • He traveled the length and breadth of the country.

Variants and Related Words

• Lengthen (verb): To make or become longer.
  • They decided to lengthen the school day.
• Lengthy (adjective): Very long, especially in time; often excessively long.
  • We had a lengthy discussion about the budget.
• Lengthwise (adverb): In the direction of the length.
  • Cut the cucumber lengthwise.

Synonyms

• Extent: The degree to which something has spread; the size or scale of something.
• Duration: The time during which something continues.
• Distance: The amount of space between two points.
• Span: The full extent from end to end; a period of time.

Related Phrases

• At arm's length:
  • Meaning: At a distance; avoiding a close relationship.
  • She kept her colleagues at arm's length.
• Full-length:
  • Meaning: Of the original or standard length; not shortened.
  • She wore a full-length gown to the party.
  • He is writing a full-length novel.
• To win by a length:
  • Meaning: To win a race by a distance equal to the length of one boat, horse, car, etc.
  • The champion won the race by a length.

Related Idioms

• To go to any length / to any lengths:
  • Meaning: To be willing to do anything, however extreme, to achieve a goal.
  • He would go to any length to protect his family.
• To know the length of someone's foot (archaic/less common):
  • Meaning: To understand someone's character or weaknesses thoroughly.
• To fall at full length:
  • Meaning: To fall down flat with the body fully extended.
  • He tripped and fell at full length on the pavement.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a section of something that is long and narrow
   • a length of timber
   • a length of tubing
2. size of the gap between two places
   • the distance from New York to Chicago
   • he determined the length of the shortest line segment joining the two points
3. the property of being the extent of something from beginning to end
   • the editor limited the length of my article to 500 words
4. continuance in time
   • the ceremony was of short duration
   • he complained about the length of time required
5. the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
   • the length of the table was 5 feet

Từ đồng nghĩa

• distance
• duration