Search results for 'long':

long¹ adj (longer , longest) 1 a measuring a great distance in space from one end to the other; b said of time: lasting for an extensive period. 2 often in compounds a measuring a specified amount • six centimetres long; b lasting a specified time • a three-hour-long movie. 3 having a large number of items • a long list. 4 a measuring more than is usual, expected or wanted • She has really long hair; b lasting a greater time than is usual, expected or wanted • The breakdown made it a really long journey. 5 said of someone's memory: able to recall things that happened a considerable time ago. 6 having greater length than breadth. 7 a said of a dress or skirt: reaching down to the feet; b said of trousers: covering the whole of the legs • Older boys were allowed to wear long trousers. 8 said of a cold drink: large and thirst-quenching. 9 said of stocks: bought in large amounts in expectation of a rise in prices. 10 a phonetics said of a vowel: having the greater of two recognized lengths; b said of a syllable in verse: stressed; c popularly said of a vowel or syllable: taking a long time to pronounce in comparison with another, eg mate as compared to mat. 11 cricket said of fielders: covering the area near the boundary. adverb 1 for, during or by a long period of time • They had long expected such news. 2 throughout the whole time • all night long. noun 1 a comparatively long time • won't be there for long. 2 a syllable that takes a comparatively long time to pronounce. 3 a a signal in Morse code that corresponds with the dash¹ (noun 5); b a long blast from a ship's siren, etc that forms part of a signal • Three shorts and one long means head for the lifeboats. as long as or so long as 1 provided that. 2 while; during the time that. before long in the near future; soon. long ago in the very distant past. the long and the short of it the most important facts in a few words. long on something colloq having a lot of it • not too long on brains. no longer not now as it was in the past. not long for this world euphemistic about to die. so long colloq goodbye.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon lang.

long² verb (longed, longing) intrans 1 (often long for something or someone) to desire it or them very much • He longed for her to come back. 2 (long to) to have a strong desire to (do something) • He longed to hear from her.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon langian to have a yearning desire.