Definition of long
longer
play
\ˈlȯŋ-gər also -ər\;
longest
play
\ˈlȯŋ-gəst also -əst\
1 a
: extending for a considerable distance
- a long coastline
b
: having greater length than usual
- a long corridor
c
: having greater height than usual : tall
d
: having a greater length than breadth : elongated
e
: having a greater length than desirable or necessary
- the column is one line too long
f
: full-length
- long pants
2 a
: having a specified length
- six feet long
b
: forming the chief linear dimension
- the long side of the room
3 a
: extending over a considerable time
- a long friendship
b
: having a specified duration
- two hours long
c
: prolonged beyond the usual time
- a long look
d
: lasting too long : tedious
- a long explanation
4 a
: containing many items in a series
- a long list
b
: having a specified number of units
- 300 pages long
c
: consisting of a greater number or amount than usual : large
- was married, and had a long family
- —A. T. Quiller-Couch
5 a
of a speech sound
: having a relatively long duration
b
: being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel long in duration
- long a in fate
- long i in sign
c
of a syllable in prosody
(1)
: of relatively extended duration
(2)
: bearing a stress or accent
- a long syllable
6
: having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance
- a long left jab
- tried to hit the long ball
7
: larger or longer than the standard
- a long count by the referee
8 a
: extending far into the future
- the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts
- —H. W. Longfellow
b
: extending beyond what is known
- a long guess
c
: payable after a considerable period
- a long note
9
: possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified : strong
- long on common sense
10 a
: of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side
- long odds
b
: of or relating to the larger amount wagered
- take the long end of the bet
11
: subject to great odds
- take a long chance for a large reward
- —W. P. Webb
12
: owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices
- they are now long on wheat
- take a long position in steel
—
long in the tooth
: past one's best days : old
- She'a a little long in the tooth for those kinds of antics.
—
not long for
: having little time left to do or enjoy something
- His grandfather is not long for this world.
