lengthlength /lɛŋkθ, lɛnθ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1
SIZE [countable, uncountable] math the measurement of something from one end to the other: the length of something I like the length of this skirt.a length of 3 feet/6 inches/40 meters etc. The leaves reach a length of about 4 inches.3 feet/6 inches/40 meters etc. in length Each board measures 5 feet in length. → width (1)2TIME [countable, uncountable] the amount of time that you spend doing something, or that something continues for: the length of something the length of the average news broadcast The boy wasn’t alone for any length of time (=for more than a short time).3WHOLE DISTANCE the length of something the whole distance that something covers from end to end: The road extends the length of the island.4BOOKS/WRITING ETC. [countable, uncountable] the amount of writing in a book, article, etc.: the length of something Greene’s book is less than half the length of most novels.500 words/2 pages etc. in length The paper should be 2,000 words in length.5go to great/any lengths to do something to try very hard to do whatever is necessary to achieve something, sometimes when what you do is wrong or illegal: Most companies go to great lengths to avoid controversy.6at length a) (also at some/great length) for a long time: She spoke at great length about her travels. b)written after a long time SYN eventually: “Yes,” she answered at length.7PIECE [countable] a piece of something long and thin: a length of rope8CLOTH [countable] a piece of material, cloth, etc.: a length of striped cotton canvas9IN RACES [countable] the measurement from one end of a horse, boat, etc. to the other, used when saying how far one is ahead of another: Aksar won by three lengths.10SWIMMING [countable] the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the other: Ron swims 25 lengths every morning. → see also at arm’s length at arm1 (8), full-length, shoulder-length
SIZE [countable, uncountable] math the measurement of something from one end to the other: the length of something I like the length of this skirt.a length of 3 feet/6 inches/40 meters etc. The leaves reach a length of about 4 inches.3 feet/6 inches/40 meters etc. in length Each board measures 5 feet in length. → width (1)2TIME [countable, uncountable] the amount of time that you spend doing something, or that something continues for: the length of something the length of the average news broadcast The boy wasn’t alone for any length of time (=for more than a short time).3WHOLE DISTANCE the length of something the whole distance that something covers from end to end: The road extends the length of the island.4BOOKS/WRITING ETC. [countable, uncountable] the amount of writing in a book, article, etc.: the length of something Greene’s book is less than half the length of most novels.500 words/2 pages etc. in length The paper should be 2,000 words in length.5go to great/any lengths to do something to try very hard to do whatever is necessary to achieve something, sometimes when what you do is wrong or illegal: Most companies go to great lengths to avoid controversy.6at length a) (also at some/great length) for a long time: She spoke at great length about her travels. b)written after a long time SYN eventually: “Yes,” she answered at length.7PIECE [countable] a piece of something long and thin: a length of rope8CLOTH [countable] a piece of material, cloth, etc.: a length of striped cotton canvas9IN RACES [countable] the measurement from one end of a horse, boat, etc. to the other, used when saying how far one is ahead of another: Aksar won by three lengths.10SWIMMING [countable] the distance from one end of a swimming pool to the other: Ron swims 25 lengths every morning. → see also at arm’s length at arm1 (8), full-length, shoulder-length