Length
/lɛŋθ/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe extent or measurement of something from end to end.
/lɛŋθ/
The measurement of something from end to end.
The length of the rope was perfect for the swing.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're measuring how far something goes. The length is how long it is from one end to the other, like the length of your arm or the length of a piece of string!
👶 For kids: How long something is from one end to the other.
More Examples
The architect calculated the length of the building.
The dress was the perfect length.
How It's Used
"The length of the table is six feet."
"He won the race by a length."
"The length of a line segment is the distance between its endpoints."
The amount of time something continues; duration.
/lɛŋθ/
The amount of time something lasts.
The length of the concert was two hours.
💡 Simply: Length can also mean how *long* something goes on for. Like, the length of a movie is how many hours it plays, or the length of a vacation is how many days you're away!
👶 For kids: How long something goes on for, like a movie or a game.
More Examples
The length of the test was a challenge.
We enjoyed the length of our vacation.
How It's Used
"The length of the meeting was longer than expected."
"The length of the movie was three hours."
From Old English *lengþu*, *lengþ*, from *lang* (long) + *-thu* (a suffix indicating abstract nouns).
Used consistently since Middle English, the word 'length' has referred to measurable extension since its inception.
Memory tip
Think of a measuring tape stretching across an object.