length
[lengkth, length, lenth]
noun
1.the longest extent of anything as measured from end to end: the length of a river.
3.extent from beginning to end of a series, enumeration, account, book, etc.: a report running 300 pages in length.
4.extent in time; duration: the length of a battle.
5. a distance determined by the extent of something specified: Hold the picture at arm’s length.
6.a piece or portion of a certain or a known extent: a length of rope.
7.the quality or state of being long rather than short: a journey remarkable for its length.
8.the extent to which a person might or would go in pursuing something: He went to great lengths to get what he wanted.
9.a large extent or expanse of something.
10.the measure from end to end of a horse, boat, etc., as a unit of distance in racing: The horse won by two lengths.
11.Clothing . the extent of a garment related to a point it reaches, as on the wearer’s body, the floor, or on a garment used as a standard of measurement (usually used in combination): an ankle-length gown; a floor-length negligee; a three-quarter-length coat.
12.Prosody, Phonetics .
a.(of a vowel or syllable) quantity, whether long or short.
b.the quality of vowels.
13.Bridge . the possession of four or more than four cards in a given suit.
14.Theater Archaic . 42 lines of an acting part.
Idioms
15. at length,
a.in or to the full extent; completely.
b.after a time; finally: At length there was a step forward in the negotiations.
16.go to any length / lengths, to disregard any impediment that could prevent one from accomplishing one’s purpose: He would go to any lengths to get his own way.
17. keep at arm’s length. arm1 ( def. 16 ) .