lengthlength /leŋθ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 
We measured the length and width of the living room.a length of 1 metre/2 feet etc Some fish can grow to a length of four feet.2 feet/10 metres etc in length The hotel pool is 15 metres in length. You’ll need several pieces of string of different lengths.2time [countable, uncountable] the amount of time that you spend doing something or that something continueslength of Your pension will depend on your length of employment. What’s the average length of stay in hospital?(not) for any length of time (=not for very long) He wasn’t left alone for any length of time.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually talk about how long something is in space or time, rather than using the noun length: We need to know the length of the table. ➔ We need to know how long the table is. | He was annoyed by the length of time he had to wait. ➔ He was annoyed by how long he had to wait.3books/films etc [countable, uncountable] the amount of writing in a book, or the amount of time that a film, play etc continueslength of We had to cut the length of the book by one third.of this length Films of this length (=as long as this) are pretty unusual.4run/stretch/walk etc the (full) length of something to go or move from one end to the other of something: The wall ran the full length of the garden. They walked the length of the pier.5shoulder-length/knee-length etc reaching down as far as your shoulders etc: shoulder-length hair an ankle-length dress6go to some/great/any lengths (to do something) to try very hard or to do whatever is necessary to achieve something that is important to you: He went to great lengths to keep their name out of the papers. Bella would go to any lengths to fulfil her ambition.7at (some/great etc) length a)if you talk at length about something, you talk about it for a long timespeak/talk etc at length The young people spoke at length about their experiences. We’ve already discussed the subject at great length. b)literary after a long time: ‘I don’t agree,’ she said at length.8the length and breadth of the area/country/land etc in or through every part of a large area: The police searched the length and breadth of the country.9piece [countable] a piece of something long and thina length of rope/pipe/wire etc10in races [countable] the measurement of a horse, boat etc from one end to the other – used when saying how far the horse, boat etc is ahead of another: The horse won by three lengths.11swimming [countable] the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the otherdo/swim a length She does at least 20 lengths a day. → hold something at arm’s length at arm1(8), → keep/hold somebody at arm’s length at arm1(9), → full-length1COLLOCATIONSverbsmeasure the length of something· The children measured the length of their shadows at three different times of day.have a length of 1 metre/2 feet etc· These leaves have a length of about 7 cm.grow to/reach a length of 2 metres/8 feet etc· A blue whale can reach a length of 100 feet.run the length of something (=exist along the whole length of something)· A long corridor ran the length of the building.adjectivesthe total length· The total length of the completed railway line will be almost 650 kilometres.an average length· These worms grow to an average length of about 1 metre.the whole/full/entire length of something· The camera looks down the full length of the street.medium length· All the girls had short or medium length hair.equal/unequal length· She drew two lines of equal length.a maximum/minimum length· This species of fish can reach a maximum length of 12 inches.
WORD ORIGINlength
Origin:
Old English lengthu, from lang; ➔ LONG1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Actually, no-one has legs of exactly equal length.
- Aksar won by three lengths.
- Do you want your hair at the back to be the same length as the sides?
- Greene's book is less than half the length of most novels.
- I like the length of this skirt.
- Measure the length of all three sides of the triangle.
- Ron swims several lengths every morning.
- The average length of a stay in the hospital has dropped sharply.
- The leaves reach 20-25 cm in length.
- The two pieces or rope were unequal in length.
- The windows stretch across the whole length of the wall.
- These fish can grow to a length of four feet.
- Try these trousers, they look about the right length.
- At ten lengths the furthest Pfalz turned to meet the attack, far too late.
- Bear in mind that all sections must add up to the overall length measurement.
- For most of its length it didn't look hard enough and then, with its final roll, it fell in.
- In silence, they watched the man's progress along the length of the corridor.
- The service developments which followed the Home Support Project will be discussed at greater length in the final chapter.
- This in turn led to criticism of the length and complexity of documents that customers were being asked to sign.
- Thread a small length of round elastic through the base of the puppet.
Longman Language Activatorways of saying how long something is
: six feet/two metres etc long · The room is about 10 metres long and 5 metres wide.· Some snakes can grow up to 30 feet long.· To read a report that's over 40 pages long? It would take me most of the day.how long · How long is the trailer? I don't think it will fit in the garage.· Look how long Ayesha's hair is getting.· Get me a measuring tape - I'll show you how long I want the skirt.
how long something is: · Do you want your hair at the back to be the same length as the sides?· Try these trousers, they look about the right length.length of: · Measure the length of all three sides of the triangle.· The windows stretch across the whole length of the wall.a length of 4 feet/three inches etc: · These fish can grow to a length of four feet.5 miles/12 inches etc in length: · The leaves reach 20-25 cm in length.in length: · The two pieces of rope were unequal in length.of equal length (=when two things are of the same length): · Actually, no-one has legs of exactly equal length.
the period of time that something lasts or takes: a considerable/reasonable length of time · The noise went on for a considerable length of time.· Make sure that the speakers only talk for a reasonable length of time, so that everyone gets a chance to take part.length of time (that) · Dress the wound quickly, to reduce the length of time it is exposed to infection.the length of time it takes to do something · Typically, the length of time it takes an adult to fall asleep is 10 to 15 minutes.
formal the length of time that something lasts for: · Zoe's temper tantrums had increased both in volume and duration.two years'/a month's etc duration: · After a long voyage of two years' duration, he arrived in Canton in 1669.· These workshops, usually of one or two days' duration, bring teachers and industrial managers together.duration of: · The doctor will ask you about the duration and frequency of your headaches.· He refused to comment on his salary or the duration of his contract.for the duration (of something): · It was decided that we would stay with my cousins for the duration of the war.
the period of time during which something develops or exists, especially as compared with another period that is much longer or shorter: · Compared to how long it took for the Universe to evolve, our human time scale is tiny.· Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by a number of processes that operate on different time scales.· In today's computer industry, the whole time scale of new product development is far shorter than it was 10 years ago.
to try very hard to do something to make a lot of effort, because you want very much to do something: · No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the window to open.try hard to do something: · I was trying hard not to laugh.· You must try harder to get your homework done on time.
to try hard to do something, especially something you do not want to do but you think you should do: · Can't you make more of an effort?make an effort to do something: · I made an effort to sound interested in what he was saying.· I wish you'd make an effort to get on with my friends.make no effort to do something: · She makes absolutely no effort to see the other person's point of view.
formal to try hard to achieve something, especially when this is difficult: strive to do something: · Toni has been striving to achieve musical recognition for the past ten years.strive for: · The company must constantly strive for greater efficiency.
to make a lot of effort to do something, especially to explain something people do not understand correctly: · Mrs Henessy was at pains to say that she was fighting for a principle, not just for financial compensation.
to be willing to use any method that is necessary in order to achieve something, even if this involves being dishonest, breaking the law etc: · Health professionals have gone to great lengths to reassure patients that the treatment is safe.· Some firms will go to great lengths, including spying, to obtain information about their competitors.
WORD SETSbareback, adjectivebay, nounbit, nounblacksmith, nounblaze, nounblinkered, adjectiveblinkers, nounbloodstock, nounbridle, nounbridle, verbcanter, verbcard, nouncrop, noundressage, nounequestrian, adjectiveequine, adjectiveevens, nounfarrier, nounfence, nounfield, nounfilly, noungallop, verbgallop, noungee-gee, noungelding, noungirth, noungroom, noungymkhana, nounhack, verbhack, nounhalter, nounhand, nounhigh-spirited, adjectivehorsemanship, nounhorse-riding, nounjib, verbjockey, nounjodhpurs, nounjoust, verbjump, nounlad, nounlength, nounmiler, nounmount, nounnag, nounneigh, verbnobble, verbnosebag, nounodds, nounofftrack, adjectiveostler, nounpack trip, nounpaddock, nounpair, nounpalomino, nounparimutuel, nounpommel, nounpony-trekking, nounprance, verbracecourse, nounracegoer, nounracehorse, nounrace meeting, nounracetrack, nounracing, nounrein, nounremount, verbride, verbriding, nounroan, nounrodeo, nounsaddle, nounsaddle, verbsaddle bag, nounshoe, nounshoe, verbshow jumping, nounshy, verbskittish, adjectivespur, nounspur, verbstable, nounstable, verbstable boy, nounstabling, nounstarting gate, nounstarting price, nounstayer, nounsteeplechase, nounsteward, nounstirrup, nountack, nounthoroughbred, nounthree-day event, nountip, nountipster, nountournament, nountout, verbtrot, nounturf accountant, noununseat, verbwater jump, nounwhoa, interjectionwinning post, nounyearling, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs It’s only half the size of a normal violin. They offered to pay half the cost of repairs. She’s of medium height. hair of medium length The Sierra mountain range runs the length of the north west coast of Majorca. a three-quarter length coat two rooms of unequal size
· The children measured the length of their shadows at three different times of day.
· These leaves have a length of about 7 cm.
· A blue whale can reach a length of 100 feet.
(=exist along the whole length of something)· A long corridor ran the length of the building.
adjectives· The total length of the completed railway line will be almost 650 kilometres.
· These worms grow to an average length of about 1 metre.
· The camera looks down the full length of the street.
· All the girls had short or medium length hair.
· She drew two lines of equal length.
· This species of fish can reach a maximum length of 12 inches.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=so that it is the size/length you need)· The place where I bought the wood cut it to size for me.
· Draw two lines of equal length.
· The population of each town is roughly equal in size.
· He had shoulder-length reddish hair.
It’s only half the size of a normal violin. They offered to pay half the cost of repairs. She’s of medium height. hair of medium length The Sierra mountain range runs the length of the north west coast of Majorca. a three-quarter length coat· Customers only have a limited amount of time to inspect the goods.
two rooms of unequal size· The pieces of wire he’d cut were too short.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The specialisms of geriatrics and orthopaedic surgery have recorded the largest decreases in average length of stay.· To begin with, the average length of time per customer transaction tripled, which meant longer lines and increased waiting times.· The average length of stay of readmitted patients was 12 days compared with 15 for those not readmitted.· The average length of a bull market is 28 months, according to Ibbotson.· So short of an immediate recovery, this recession will be longer than the 11-month average length of recessions since the war.· Regardless of who or what triggered these placements, the average length of stay was reported as 15. 4 months.· The average length of time in this accommodation was 10 months.· The average length of service of my colleagues in London fell rapidly from six years to less than two years.
· Here, some one had gone to considerable lengths to get the cushions toning in nicely with the curtains.· If pump failure should occur during your absence, the fishes could live for a considerable length of time.· Ninety autobiographies refer to grandparents, sometimes at considerable length.· GasGenie has gone to considerable lengths to make the site easy to find.· This is reflected, as the University goes to considerable lengths to import sportsmen.· I have spent too many hours on these Benches arguing on behalf of Bills, often at considerable length.· They went to considerable lengths to remove all traces of her from the offices and rooms she had used at the Palace.· J., we become so entangled in the tale that its considerable length is hardly noticeable.
· The two lips of the drum are of the same thickness hut follow arcs of different lengths.· This is particularly important when a column has entries of different lengths.· Each string has a different length so you will each be investigating a different size circle.· Some people prefer different line lengths.· They were also regularly penetrated day and night by a variety of trains of different lengths and sizes.· Try using different lengths of pencil. 7.· Take the case of the copywriter charged with advertising men's shirts with three different sleeve lengths.· The wave theory also explains the existence of different colours of light: they are just waves of different lengths.
· The lateral membrane takes up the entire length of one side of the chamber, pushing the grapes against the other side.· Sedimenting particles in the horizontal-head centrifuge must travel the entire length of the liquid in the tube.· The freak wave broke top to bottom across the entire length of the Bay.· She walks back and forth, slowly, the entire length of the bus.· The flexible rod in its back which runs the entire length of its body carries transverse bands of muscles.· One has antennae much larger than its entire body length.· The proposal covers the entire length of the 30-acre site, from County Hall to Waterloo Bridge.· Analysis was confined to those crypts whose entire lengths could be completely visualised and which contained a single layer of cells only.
· The circle is a special case of the ellipse in which the two axes are equal in length.· The radiating ribs of a fan are of equal length and the bounding line is in the form of a semicircle.· Take a sharp knife and cut the roll into four equal lengths.· The lines must be of equal length, and fully paid-out before launch.· There are proximally 8 slightly rugose arm spines, the second dorsalmost one the largest, equal in length to 3 segments.· There are 5 short arm spines, the longest is scarcely equal in length to one segment.· You will need a strip of paper to equal this length by at least the desired depth of your pelmet.· We must assume either that all chains between junctions are of equal stretched length or that there is some definable length distribution.
· The image produced by a diverging lens is however frequently virtual and consequently the focal length does not seem easy to determine.· Properties of a parabola All parabolas are similar. Focal length a determines the magnitude.· A single focal length, fixed-focus is often sufficient.· This does cause a problem in that you need shorter focal length lenses to obtain the same effect.
· I always enjoyed walking the full length of the street to check how the other shops were faring.· Then he simply extends the arrow to full length once more while appearing to cough the whole thing up again.· The stick began to grow shorter at both ends.Then it shot out to full length again.· Zips: the two-way zip is well protected inside with a baffle and has anti-snag webbing along its full length.· He can still lie full length in it.· Anthea turned out the light and stretched full length on the bed.· Zips: the full length zip is protected inside with a zip baffle.· He spread the strip out to full length.
· Cecil had expressed his own attitude at great length and less clarity a year or two before this.· Yet Phillips climbed the wall anyway, went to great lengths to hurt his ex-girlfriend.· It is likely that Celsus discussed the matter at greater length, and with greater clarity.· Lombardi went to great lengths over the weekend to deny the Sharks were pursuing Gretzky.· George Bush went to great lengths to keep out of his way on the campaign trail.· Bartley goes to great lengths to make each kit as easy as possible.· This subject was discussed at greater length in Chapter 9.· And recently Tucson Water has gone to great lengths to become a private utility.
· The dredging and deepening of long lengths of the existing canal; 3.· P would like to see the debt spread out over a longer length of time.· Chunky long length bobble sweater, £269, in a variety of colours.· I use long lengths of floating row cover, anchored with bricks and stones, on annual and perennial beds.· Moulding planes are excellent to work with, but the job of producing long lengths of moulding can be very time-consuming.· The paternoster I use is the genuine article, which entails a long bomb length and a short hook length.· Uginox is lightweight, vandal resistant and can be laid in long lengths, eliminating the need for cross joints.· Reaching the ridge, a logjam of bewildered novices develops. Long lengths of rope trail dangerously on the ground.
· Minimum length is one character and maximum length is 52 characters.· The maximum length of stay is seven days; reservations must be requested no earlier than 30 days before travel.· Once you know the maximum width and length required, you can decide which way the sheet will be laid.· Action: The maximum length of any line which can be used in a module header is 255 characters.· Unless otherwise specified, all fields have a maximum length of 20 characters, including colons, square brackets, etc.· When the file is closed, the directory is updated to show the maximum used length of the file.· There is a £3.50 entry fee per manuscript and a maximum length of 2,500 words.· The shadows of the stones stretched to their maximum length, while the sun seemed to rest on the horizon.
· Film loops or mini-films are usually single concept films of a short length, say ten minutes.· At breakfast a short length of bamboo was seen floating away behind the raft.· Patients readmitted consistently had a shorter length of stay in all specialisms than non-readmitted patients.· The human eye and brain are much happier reading short to medium length unjustified lines although books are conventionally justified.· In the field, the tanker runs alongside the injector and feeds it via a short length of hose.· Where a short length is required, you have to cut these notches yourself.· There are several special fittings for doing this, including a short length of pipe and push-fit brass or plastic fittings.· The paternoster I use is the genuine article, which entails a long bomb length and a short hook length.
· The total length of the basic training process is often debated.· Therefore the total unraveled length of a network can be shortened by adding nodes to it!· That figure is arrived at by multiplying the total length of traffic jams by their duration.· Remember, the total length the leader should be 6 { feet or less.· The section length occupied by the respective injury grades was expressed as a percentage of the total section length.· The total length of the lines connecting those three cities is 3, 000 miles.· The total length of the Aeschylean corpus, however, provides rather a narrow base for statistical treatment.· This led to the line being extended thither, the total length then being 380 versts.
· From the air she was able to see the whole length of the valley and she could only guess at its size.· Keep your notes for at least a full year - and probably for the whole length of the course.· Either that or using one player to dribble the whole length of the pitch.· Often the whole length of the radial shields is visible and they may be bowed upwards in some specimens.· Soundlessly, he swept his forearm down the whole length of the mantelpiece, scattering cards and ornaments alike.· I discussed the whole issue at length with Vivienne and decided I should tough it out.· The heat from this fire warmed the whole length and breadth of the bothy, a stone longhouse of one single room.· The first autumn mists made it difficult to see the whole length of the reach.
VERB· If the outlet is directly over the pipe, simply cut the pipe to length and push it over the outlet connection.· They are displayed whole at meat counters or are cut into short lengths and packaged.· He cut off his shoulder length hair, put on a suit, and started dealing with bankers.· This fastening can be cut to any length as it is available by the metre or sold in pre-packed form.· An immigration-reform measure pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee would cut the length of employment to three years, but Sen.· They were straightened, then cut to length on a saw, drilled, and placed adjacent to their assembly points.· The aluminium tube is then cut to length as required with a hacksaw.
· The Polytechnic Chaplaincy was discussed at some length.· He discussed at length the procedures of advanced research: tales of meticulous quests for elusive sources.· The criteria employed for the weeding process are discussed at some length in Chapter 11.· Although seemingly obvious, this principle is quite slippery and difficult to follow for reasons discussed at length in the next chapter.· The service developments which followed the Home Support Project will be discussed at greater length in the final chapter.· This subject was discussed at greater length in Chapter 9.· These are the ones we have already discussed at length, such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.· There are many reasons for this, which Romaine discusses at some length.
· Dealers, sometimes surreptitiously encouraged by their firms, would go to great lengths to extract information from employees of rival firms.· Not worth investigating, never mind going to the lengths of deadly sabotage.· The Medieval church went to some lengths to specify the roles of particular stones in religious imagery.· Reporters will also go to desperate lengths to get invitations to the White House Christmas party.· George Bush went to great lengths to keep out of his way on the campaign trail.· We go to great lengths to keep track of what a robber did, but none to find out where he went.· But 50-year-old Thaw has gone to extreme lengths to keep his location secret and has turned into a virtual recluse.· The locals go to suicidal lengths to overtake vehicles travelling only marginally slower than themselves.
· He opened the door, allowing it to reach only the length of the chain.· It reaches a length of about a foot, but is commonly seen at five to six inches.· Another favoured prey item is the giant squid, which can reach lengths of 12m.· Giraffe catfish can reach a length well in excess of two feet in their natural environment.· Most are small, about five inches, but some reach a foot in length.· Shubunkins and comets are slower growing but can still reach a length of 8-10 inches.
· Next door, the living room is large and beautifully proportioned, running the length of the house.· Then Red runs the length of the court, grabs a pass, drives to the basket and sinks one.· A prickling sensation running the length of her spine told her that Rourke had made an appearance.· Rumor was that this tiger had special powers hidden in the dark-black stripes that ran the length of its rich orange-colored coat.· A long corridor ran down the length of the building with doors leading off on both sides.· The closet was deep and wide, but it only ran half the length of the wall.· Kadan was stretched out across a couch which was placed under one of the windows which ran the length of the room.· A groined passage ran along the length of the site connecting both offices, with the stairs leading off it.
· I swung my boots up on to the bed and stretched out full length.· And the line, which stretched nearly the length of Mizner Park, moved quickly.· Eliot was stretched the length of his iron bedstead.· The field of battle which our commanding generals selected stretched its length for six miles through that great forest....· Anthea turned out the light and stretched full length on the bed.· Horton had stretched lengths of fabric, also figured, over the doors, creating a deep, cave-like illusion.· The exit was impossible to reach as this abyss stretched the length of the floor.· The Headmaster turned towards a row of small carts sitting on a miniature railway track that stretched the length of the corridor.
· Because games may vary slightly in length you may not start at the exact time given.· There was a concatenation of ladies that he squired around for varying lengths of time.· Depending upon the style of kungfu being practised, the forms vary in length and degrees of difficulty.· The Koran is a book divided into 114 suras of varying length, from a few lines to several pages.· However, the slats are of varying lengths and the barrel is leaking.· Different tasks require varying lengths of time to complete.· Somerville-1941 Special Report Degree courses vary in length, but because of the war our stay at Somerville varied even more.· Ideally you should vary your sentence length, establishing a rhythm for your writing.
· I always enjoyed walking the full length of the street to check how the other shops were faring.· We walked the length of South Finger with its series of wooden hides.· I would have to walk the length of the shed to reach him.· She had to walk nearly its full length before finding a seat in a non-smoking carriage.· He picked up the ball and walked the length of the yard with six of us hanging on him.· She walked the length of the street without finding the office.· The girl rose, put her comic down, and walked the length of the car to the toilet.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► shoulder-length/knee-length etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► hold something at arm’s length► full-length skirt/dress/coat etc
- All the torments of the one class and the joys of the other are described at length.
- An example may, in consequence, be worth considering at some length.
- Moreover, they were journalists from a premier worldwide newsgathering organization, playing themselves and at great length in a feature-film fantasy.
- Standing in the farmyard, Giles Aplin also spoke to Seb at some length.
- The criteria employed for the weeding process are discussed at some length in Chapter 11.
- The distinctions between kinds of complex idea are considered at some length in the Essay.
- Their objections, based on religious grounds, are discussed at length in the opinion.
- This argument is both diversionary and, at length, immobilizing.
- But the Jaipur is hoping that eventually passengers will be eating their food the length and breadth of the country.
- They dogged him the length and breadth of the country, wherever the small troupe of players appeared.
- A faint scar ran the length of his left cheek.
- I always enjoyed walking the full length of the street to check how the other shops were faring.
- I would have to walk the length of the shed to reach him.
- Next door, the living room is large and beautifully proportioned, running the length of the house.
- The loft ran the length of the house from front to back, and it was lit by two unshaded forty-watt bulbs.
- Then Red runs the length of the court, grabs a pass, drives to the basket and sinks one.
- Both want to steal the show and they are going to great lengths to do it.
- Dealers, sometimes surreptitiously encouraged by their firms, would go to great lengths to extract information from employees of rival firms.
- Furthermore, bats go to great lengths to avoid confrontations with people.
- George Bush went to great lengths to keep out of his way on the campaign trail.
- The Medieval church went to some lengths to specify the roles of particular stones in religious imagery.
- When uninterrupted by unforeseen or unrecognized obstacles, parents will go to great lengths to provide these advantages for their children.
- Who knows whether Oppenheimer went to any lengths to find anyone who had anything good to say about Stewart.
- Yet Phillips climbed the wall anyway, went to great lengths to hurt his ex-girlfriend.
- Economic policies kept the Soviet Union and Japan at arm's length during the Cold War.
- Dropping the robe off her shoulders, Anne turned to a full-length mirror.
- He put his handkerchief in his pocket, and looked into the full-length mirror on the back of the guest room door.
- If a full-length mirror rests on the floor with the top tilting away from you it can make you look taller.
- On a platform nearby, another man jumps rope before a full-length mirror while a fourth pounds a speed bag.
- She caught sight of her own reflection in the full-length mirror behind the wardrobe door and gave a disgusted snort.
- She grimaced a little as she caught sight of her own reflection in the full-length mirror.
- She stared at herself for some time in the full-length mirror of the attic bedroom.
- How to turn a tightly compressed event into a full-length book?
WORD FAMILYadjectivelengtheninglengthyadverblengthwiselengthwaysnounlengthverblengthen
1size [countable, uncountable] the measurement of how long something is from one end to the other: We measured the length and width of the living room.a length of 1 metre/2 feet etc Some fish can grow to a length of four feet.2 feet/10 metres etc in length The hotel pool is 15 metres in length. You’ll need several pieces of string of different lengths.2time [countable, uncountable] the amount of time that you spend doing something or that something continueslength of Your pension will depend on your length of employment. What’s the average length of stay in hospital?(not) for any length of time (=not for very long) He wasn’t left alone for any length of time.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually talk about how long something is in space or time, rather than using the noun length: We need to know the length of the table. ➔ We need to know how long the table is. | He was annoyed by the length of time he had to wait. ➔ He was annoyed by how long he had to wait.3books/films etc [countable, uncountable] the amount of writing in a book, or the amount of time that a film, play etc continueslength of We had to cut the length of the book by one third.of this length Films of this length (=as long as this) are pretty unusual.4run/stretch/walk etc the (full) length of something to go or move from one end to the other of something: The wall ran the full length of the garden. They walked the length of the pier.5shoulder-length/knee-length etc reaching down as far as your shoulders etc: shoulder-length hair an ankle-length dress6go to some/great/any lengths (to do something) to try very hard or to do whatever is necessary to achieve something that is important to you: He went to great lengths to keep their name out of the papers. Bella would go to any lengths to fulfil her ambition.7at (some/great etc) length a)if you talk at length about something, you talk about it for a long timespeak/talk etc at length The young people spoke at length about their experiences. We’ve already discussed the subject at great length. b)literary after a long time: ‘I don’t agree,’ she said at length.8the length and breadth of the area/country/land etc in or through every part of a large area: The police searched the length and breadth of the country.9piece [countable] a piece of something long and thina length of rope/pipe/wire etc10in races [countable] the measurement of a horse, boat etc from one end to the other – used when saying how far the horse, boat etc is ahead of another: The horse won by three lengths.11swimming [countable] the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the otherdo/swim a length She does at least 20 lengths a day. → hold something at arm’s length at arm1(8), → keep/hold somebody at arm’s length at arm1(9), → full-length1COLLOCATIONSverbsmeasure the length of something· The children measured the length of their shadows at three different times of day.have a length of 1 metre/2 feet etc· These leaves have a length of about 7 cm.grow to/reach a length of 2 metres/8 feet etc· A blue whale can reach a length of 100 feet.run the length of something (=exist along the whole length of something)· A long corridor ran the length of the building.adjectivesthe total length· The total length of the completed railway line will be almost 650 kilometres.an average length· These worms grow to an average length of about 1 metre.the whole/full/entire length of something· The camera looks down the full length of the street.medium length· All the girls had short or medium length hair.equal/unequal length· She drew two lines of equal length.a maximum/minimum length· This species of fish can reach a maximum length of 12 inches.