Main Entry: pro·tract

Pronunciation: \prō-ˈtrakt, prə-\

Function: transitive verb

Etymology: Latin protractus, past participle of protrahere, literally, to draw forward, from pro- forward + trahere to draw — more at pro-

Date: 1540

1 archaic : delay, defer
2 : to prolong in time or space : continue
3 : to extend forward or outward — compare retract 1

synonyms see extend

— pro·trac·tive \-ˈtrak-tiv\ adjective