protract

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To draw out

   To draw out; to extend, especially in duration.

   • Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock; Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.
   • 1755, Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, London: J. and P. Knapton et al., Volume 1, Preface, I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please, have sunk into the grave […]
   • I should wish now to protract this moment ad infinitum; but I dare not.
2. 2

   To use a protractor.

3. 3

   To draw to a scale

   To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.

   • This is a synopsis of our marches, which, protracted on Burckhardt’s map, gives an error of ten miles.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To put off to a distant time

      To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer.

      • to protract a decision or duty
      • […] Let us bury him, And not protract with admiration what Is now due debt. To the grave!
      • Then, since I’m sure to meet my Fate, How vain would Hope appear? Since Fear cannot protract the Date, How foolish ’twere to fear?
   2. 5

      To extend

      To extend; to protrude.

      • A cat can protract and retract its claws.

The neighborhood

• neighbortract and its related terms