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

1archaic : delay, defer2: to prolong in time or space : continue3: to extend forward or outward — compare retract 1

synonyms see extend

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