prolong
/prəˈlɒŋ
/verb [with object]
1Extend the duration of: an idea which prolonged the life of the engine by many years...
- The addition of a vasoconstrictor, such as epinephrine, constricts blood vessels and reduces vascular uptake, which further prolongs the duration of the anesthetic.
- The latter is known to be due to the fact that hypocalcemia prolongs the duration of phase two of the action potential of cardiac muscle.
- Hypothermia impairs the metabolism of drugs, prolonging the duration of some pharmacologic effects.
Synonyms
lengthen, make longer, extend, extend the duration of, draw out, drag out, protract, spin out, stretch out, string out, elongate;
carry on, continue, keep up, keep something going, go on with, perpetuate, sustain
archaic wire-draw
1.1 technical Extend in spatial length: the line of his lips was prolonged in a short red scar
Derivatives
prolongation
/ noun ...- Birth-related outcomes that were evaluated included estimated gestational age, length of prolongation, and delivery at term.
- Health has become the over-riding contemporary virtue, and the measure of health care in rich countries has become, to a great extent, the simple prolongation of life.
- The prognosis will be much improved if the reason for its continual exacerbation and consequent prolongation were removed.
prolonger
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French prolonguer, from late Latin prolongare, from pro- 'forward, onward' + longus 'long'.
Rhymes
- bad (or tough or rotten) luck
- bad penny
- bad quarto
- bad seed
- bad-talk
- bad taste
- bad-tempered
- bad-temperedly
- bad trip
- badware
- bae
- Baedeker, Karl
- Baekeland, Leo Hendrik
- Baer, Karl Ernest von
- Baeyer, Adolph von
- peridinian
- peridiniean
- peridinin
- peridiole
- peridium
- peridot
- peridotic
- peridotite
- peridotitic
- peridrome