Nearby Words
long
1
[lawng, long] adjective long·er [lawng-ger, long-] , long·est [lawng-gist, long-] , noun, adverb adjective
1.
having considerable linear extent in space: a long distance; a long handle.
2.
having considerable duration in time: a long conversation; a long while.
3.
extending, lasting, or totaling a number of specified units: eight miles long; eight hours long.
4.
containing many items or units: a long list.
5.
EXPANDrequiring a considerable time to relate, read, etc.: a long story.
6.
extending beyond normal or moderate limits: a long, boring speech.
7.
experienced as passing slowly, because of the difficulty, tedium, or unpleasantness involved: long years of study.
8.
reaching well into the past: a long memory.
9.
the longer of two or the longest of several: the long way home; a brick with the long side exposed.
10.
taking a long time; slow: He's certainly long getting here.
11.
forward-looking or considering all aspects; broad: to take a long view of life.
12.
intense, thorough, or critical; seriously appraising: a long look at one's past mistakes.
13.
having an ample supply or endowment of something (often followed by on): to be long on advice; to be long on brains.
14.
having a considerable time to run, as a promissory note.
15.
Chiefly Law. distant or remote in time: a long date.
16.
extending relatively far: a man with a long reach.
17.
being higher or taller than usual: long casement windows.
18.
being against great odds; unlikely: a long chance.
19.
(of beverages) mixed or diluted with a large amount of soda, seltzer, etc.: highballs, collinses, and other long drinks.
20.
(of the head or skull) of more than ordinary length from front to back.
21.
Phonetics.
a.
lasting a relatively long time: “Feed” has a longer sound than “feet” or “fit.”
b.
belonging to a class of sounds considered as usually longer in duration than another class, as the vowel of bought as compared to that of but, and in many languages serving as a distinctive feature of phonemes, as the ah in German Bahn in contrast with the a in Bann, or the tt in Italian fatto in contrast with the t in fato (opposed to short).
c.
having the sound of the English vowels in mate, meet, mite, mote, moot, and mute, historically descended from vowels that were long in duration.
22.
Prosody. (of a syllable in quantitative verse) lasting a longer time than a short syllable.
23.
Finance. holding or accumulating stocks, futures, commodities, etc., with the expectation of a rise in prices: a long position in chemicals.
24.
Gambling.
a.
marked by a large difference in the numbers of the given betting ratio or in the amounts wagered: long odds.
b.
of or pertaining to the larger amount bet.
25.
COLLAPSECeramics. (of clay) very plastic; fat.
noun
26.
a comparatively long time: They haven't been gone for long. will it take long?
27.
something that is long: The signal was two longs and a short.
28.
a size of garment for men who are taller than average.
29.
a garment, as a suit or overcoat, in this size: The shorts and the longs are hung separately.
30.
EXPANDFinance. a person who accumulates or holds stocks or commodities with the expectation of a rise in prices.
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As long as
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
adverb
Idioms32.
for or through a great extent of space or, especially, time: a reform long advocated.
33.
for or throughout a specified extent, especially of time: How long did he stay?
34.
(used elliptically in referring to the length of an absence, delay, etc.): Will she be long?
35.
throughout a specified period of time (usually used to emphasize a preceding noun): It's been muggy all summer long.
36.
at a point of time far distant from the time indicated: long before.
37.
as long as,
a.
provided that: As long as you can come by six, I'll be here.
b.
seeing that; since: As long as you're going to the grocery anyway, buy me a pint of ice cream.
c.
Also, so long as. during the time that; through the period that: As long as we were neighbors, they never invited us inside their house.
38.
before long, soon: We should have news of her whereabouts before long.
39.
the long and the short of, the point or gist of; substance of: The long and the short of it is that they will be forced to sell all their holdings. Also, the long and short of.
Origin:
before 900; (adj.) Middle English longe, Old English lang, long; cognate with Dutch, German lang, Old Norse langr, Gothic langs, Latin longus; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the adj.; (adv.) Middle English long(e), lange, Old English longe, lange, cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German lango
before 900; (adj.) Middle English longe, Old English lang, long; cognate with Dutch, German lang, Old Norse langr, Gothic langs, Latin longus; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the adj.; (adv.) Middle English long(e), lange, Old English longe, lange, cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German lango
Related forms
long·ly, adverb
long·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. lengthy, extensive. 2. protracted, prolonged, extended. 6. overlong, wordy, prolix; tedious, boring.
1. lengthy, extensive. 2. protracted, prolonged, extended. 6. overlong, wordy, prolix; tedious, boring.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To as long as
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
long
O.E. langian "to yearn, to seem long," lit. "to grow long," from P.Gmc. *langojanan (see long (adj.)). Related to O.N. langa, M.Du. langhen, O.H.G. langen, Ger. verlangen "to desire." Related: Longing, longingly.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
Long (lông), Crawford Williamson. 1815-1878.
American surgeon and pioneer anesthetist who was among the first (1842) to use ether as an anesthetic.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
as long as
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For the period of time that, as in You may keep the book as long as you want, that is, keep it for whatever time you wish to. [Early 1400s]
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Also, so long as. Since, because, as in Please pick up some milk as long as you are going to the store, or So long as you're here, you might as well stay for dinner.
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Also, so long as; just so. Provided that, as in As long as you don't expect it by tomorrow, I'll make the drawing, or So long as sales are greater than returns, the company will make a profit, or You may have another cookie, just so you don't take the last one. [Early 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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