In ancient times, the measurement of length might be defined as the length of a king’s stride. English Language Learners Definition of length : the distance from one end of something to the other end : a measurement of how long something is : the size or extent of a piece of writing
Scientific Measurement of Length. An interesting effect of the definition of the meter this way is that it fixes the speed of light in a vacuum to the exact value of 299,792,458 m/s. Length is a measure of distance.In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with dimension distance.
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition In most systems of measurement a base unit for length is chosen, from which all other units are derived. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only.
The meter is the basic unit of length in the SI system of units. Learn more.
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In the International System of Units (SI) system the base unit for length is the metre.. : a distance determined by the extent of something specified: a piece or portion of a certain or a known extent: the quality or state of being long rather than short: the extent to which a person might or would go in pursuing something: the measure from end to end of a horse, boat, etc., as a unit of distance in racing: the extent of a garment related to a point it reaches, as on the wearer's body, the floor, or on a garment used as a standard of measurement (usually used in combination): an ankle-length gown; a floor-length negligee; a three-quarter-length coat.the possession of four or more than four cards in a given suit.At length there was a step forward in the negotiations.to disregard any impediment that could prevent one from accomplishing one's purpose: the linear extent or measurement of something from end to end, usually being the longest dimension or, for something fixed, the longest horizontal dimensionthe extent of something from beginning to end, measured in some more or less regular units or intervalsa specified distance, esp between two positions or locationsa period of time, as between specified limits or momentssomething of a specified, average, or known size or extent measured in one dimension, often used as a unit of measurementthe quality, state, or fact of being long rather than shortthe amount of trouble taken in pursuing or achieving something (esp in the phrase the extreme or limit of action (in phrases such as the metrical quantity or temporal duration of a vowel or syllablethe distance from one end of a rectangular swimming bath to the otherthe quality of a vowel, whether stressed or unstressed, that distinguishes it from another vowel of similar articulatory characteristics. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.the longest extent of anything as measured from end to end: the measure of the greatest dimension of a plane or solid figure.extent from beginning to end of a series, enumeration, account, book, etc.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary