The length of something is the amount that it measures from one end to the other along the longestside.
It is about a metre in length.
...the length of the fish. [+ of]
The plane had a wing span of 34ft and a length of 22ft. [+ of]
Synonyms: distance, reach, measure, extent More Synonyms of length
2. variable noun [oft with poss]
The length of something such as a piece of writing is the amount of writing that is containedin it.
...a book of at least 100 pages in length.
The length of a paragraph depends on the information it conveys.
3. variable noun [oft with poss]
The length of an event, activity, or situation is the period of time from beginning to end for which something lasts or during which something happens.
The exact length of each period may vary. [+ of]
His film, over two hours in length, is a subtle study of family life.
Synonyms: duration, term, period, space More Synonyms of length
4. countable noun
A lengthof rope, cloth, wood, or other material is a piece of it that is intended to be used for a particular purpose or that exists in a particular situation.
...a 30ft length of rope. [+ of]
You can hang lengths of fabric behind the glass. [+ of]
Synonyms: piece, measure, section, segment More Synonyms of length
5. uncountable noun
The lengthof something is its quality of being long.
Many have been surprised at the length of time it has taken him to make up his mind. [+ of]
I noticed, too, the length of her fingers. [+ of]
Synonyms: lengthiness, extent, elongation, wordiness More Synonyms of length
6. countable noun
If you swim a length in a swimming pool, you swim the distance from one end to the other.
I swim 40 lengths a day.
7. countable noun
In boat racing or horse racing, a length is the distance from the front to the back of the boat or horse. You can talk about one boat or horse being one or more lengths in front of or behind another.
Harvard won by four lengths.
8. singular noun
If something happens or exists along the length of something, it happens or exists for the whole way along it.
I looked along the length of the building. [+ of]
The inspiration stemming from his travels lasted the length of his career. [+ of]
9. See also full-length
10.
See at length
11.
See at length
12.
See go to great lengths
13. at arm's length
14. the length and breadth of
-length
(-leŋθ)
1. combining form
-length combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe something that is of a certain length, or long enough to reach the point indicated by the noun.
...shoulder-length hair.
...knee-length boots.
...a feature-length film.
2. See also full-length
length in British English
(lɛŋkθ, lɛŋθ)
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 (iː) in English beat is of greater length than (ɪ) 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. at length
Word origin
Old English lengthu; related to Middle Dutch lengede, Old Norse lengd
length in American English
(lɛŋkθ; lɛŋθ)
noun
1.
the measure of how long a thing is; measurement of anything from end to end; thegreatest of the two or three dimensions of anything
2.
extent in space; distance anything extends
3.
extent in time; duration
4.
a long stretch or extent
5.
the quality, state, or fact of being long
6.
a piece of a certain or standardized length
a length of stove pipe
7.
a unit of measure consisting of the length of an object or animal competing in a race
to win a boat race by two lengths
8. Phonetics
a.
the duration of the pronunciation of a vowel
the i in bride has greater length than the i in bright
b. Popularly
the quality of a vowel
9. Prosody
syllabic quantity
Idioms:
at full length
at length
go to any length
Word origin
ME < OE lengthu < base of lang, long1 + -th1
-length in American English
(lɛŋkθ; lɛŋθ)
of a (specified) length, of such length as to reach a (specified) point or part
full-length
More idioms containing
length
keep someone at arm's length
at arm's length
COBUILD Collocations
length
average length
extreme lengths
short length
Examples of 'length' in a sentence
length
Vogue editors go to great lengths to protect the identities of cover stars.
The Sun (2017)
All the rooms are linked by a corridor that runs the length of the north elevation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But many experts dispute its exact length.
The Sun (2017)
They can grow up to one metre in length.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just swim two lengths - keep it simple.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There's a summer shuttle bus the full length.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He was giving 9lb to my fancy and was less than three lengths behind him when sixth.
The Sun (2016)
He is a rapid learner and knows what to expect, talking at length about the requirements for batsmen in this part of the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is no required waiting period or minimum length of stay.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It was a long jump of a length no one had dreamed of.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Perform eight sets of four lengths total.
The Sun (2014)
This super mineral has been shown to increase the quality and length of deep sleep.
The Sun (2015)
On fine hair use on lengths and ends only.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She goes to great lengths to make people like her and fears being left alone and abandoned.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
You talk about this at length in your book.
Christianity Today (2000)
Cambridge lost by less than a boat length.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The monotony of swimming lengths calms my mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We attached the line to her collar and gave her the full length to run on.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
Running the length of that passage is a narrow concrete path.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This will inhibit stride length and may build pressure in the upper back and neck joints.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Until then they had gone to great lengths to keep the relationship under wraps.
The Sun (2010)
The exact length of the time limit is less important than the fact of its existence.
Herman, Judith Lewis Trauma and Recovery (1992)
They had talked at great length about the need to stop fascism.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
Then feed the other end of the rope through a length of plastic pipe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is important because the average length of time clients are with us is ten years.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That is the length of my whole race!
The Sun (2016)
It shows the value of bowling persistent lines and lengths over long periods of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Light at arm 's length and allow the fluid to burn off before cooking.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The pair finished 15 lengths clear and the winner has gone in again since.
The Sun (2008)
Of course, this is all quite tame compared with the lengths old film stars went to look good.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It would be irresponsible to follow another car at 80mph only three cars' lengths behind.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
A generous 8in was added in overall length, though front and rear legroom are still no better than average for the class.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
length
British English: length /lɛŋkθ; lɛŋθ/ NOUN
The length of something is the amount that it measures from one end to the other.
It is about a metre in length.
American English: length
Arabic: طُولٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: comprimento
Chinese: 长度
Croatian: dužina
Czech: délka
Danish: længde
Dutch: lengte
European Spanish: longitud
Finnish: pituus
French: longueur
German: Länge
Greek: μήκος
Italian: lunghezza
Japanese: 長さ
Korean: 길이
Norwegian: lengde
Polish: długość
European Portuguese: comprimento
Romanian: lungime
Russian: длина
Latin American Spanish: longitud
Swedish: längd
Thai: ความยาว
Turkish: uzunluk
Ukrainian: довжина
Vietnamese: chiều dài
All related terms of 'length'
at length
If someone does something at length , they do it after a long period of time.
calf-length
Calf-length skirts , dresses, and coats come to halfway between your knees and ankles .
full-length
A full-length book , record , or film is the normal length, rather than being shorter than normal.
half-length
(of a portrait ) showing only the body from the waist up and including the hands
knee-length
reaching to the knee
length mark
a symbol indicating the length of a vowel sound
rope-length
a length of standard climbing rope , normally 50–60m
arm's-length
lacking intimacy or friendliness, esp when possessing some special connection , such as previous closeness
cable length
a unit of length in nautical use that has various values, including 100 fathoms (600 feet )
dress length
a piece of material that is big enough to make a dress from
focal length
the distance from the focal point of a lens or mirror to the reflecting surface of the mirror or the centre point of the lens
short length
The length of an event, activity, or situation is the period of time from beginning to end for which something lasts or during which something happens .
skirt length
the length of someone's skirt
whole-length
extended to or having its entire length; not shortened or abridged
average length
The length of an event, activity, or situation is the period of time from beginning to end for which something lasts or during which something happens .
cable's length
a unit of length in nautical use that has various values , including 100 fathoms (600 feet )
feature-length
(of a film or programme ) similar in extent to a feature although not classed as such
shoulder-length
Shoulder-length hair is long enough to reach your shoulders.
at full length
stretched out; completely extended
arm's-length price
a price of a transaction agreed in accordance with market values, disregarding any connection such as common ownership of the companies involved
at arm's length
If you hold something at arm's length , you hold it away from your body with your arm straight .
full-length window
A window is a space in the wall of a building or in the side of a vehicle, which has glass in it so that light can come in and you can see out.
go to any length
to do whatever is necessary ; scruple at nothing
feature-length film
a full-length film, the main item in a programme
measure one's length
to fall , lie , or be thrown down at full length
shoulder-length hair
hair that reaches a person's shoulders
arm's-length agreement
a commercial transaction done in accordance with market values, disregarding any connection such as common ownership of the companies involved
equivalent focal length
the ratio of the size of an image of a small distant object near the optical axis to the angular distance of the object in radians
arm's-length relationship
a relationship lacking intimacy or friendliness, esp when possessing some special connection , such as previous closeness
keep sb at arm's length
If you keep someone at arm's length , you avoid becoming too friendly or involved with them.
the length and breadth of
If you say that someone does something or something happens throughout or across the length and breadth of a place, you are emphasizing that it happens everywhere in that place.
cable
A cable is a thick wire, or a group of wires inside a rubber or plastic covering , which is used to carry electricity or electronic signals .
overseas telegram
a strong thick rope , usually of twisted hemp or steel wire