adjective long⋅er [lawng-ger, long-]
, long⋅est [lawng-gist, long-]
, noun, adverb | 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. | requiring 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 fol. 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 25. | Ceramics. (of clay) very plastic; fat. |
| 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. | Finance. a person who accumulates or holds stocks or commodities with the expectation of a rise in prices. |
| 31. | Music. longa. |
| 32. | for or through a great extent of space or, esp., time: a reform long advocated. |
| 33. | for or throughout a specified extent, esp. 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,
|
| 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. |

| as long as conj.
|
Long (lông), Crawford Williamson. 1815-1878.
American surgeon and pioneer anesthetist who was among the first (1842) to use ether as an anesthetic.
as long as
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]
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.
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]