elongate

1 of 2

verb

elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt How to pronounce elongate (audio)
(ˌ)ē-,
ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-
elongated; elongating

transitive verb

: to extend the length of

intransitive verb

: to grow in length

elongate

2 of 2

adjective

elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt How to pronounce elongate (audio)
(ˌ)ē-,
ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-
variants or elongated
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgā-təd How to pronounce elongate (audio)
(ˌ)ē-,
ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-
1
: stretched out
2

Did you know?

Elongate is often found in scientific writing, but the adjective elongated is more common, and frequently used to describe body parts in discussions of anatomy. This was even the case when the superhero Elongated Man made his appearance back in 1960. But some other characters with the same powers—Plastic Man, Elastic Lad, and Mr. Fantastic—ended up having longer careers.

Examples of elongate in a Sentence

Verb These stretching exercises can help elongate your leg muscles. New medical procedures have elongated the careers of many athletes. Adjective the giraffe's elongate neck is thought to be the result of natural selection
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Sheer Trend Instead, coconut milk nails hit the sweet spot between a bold lacquer and the type of neutral mani that instantly elongates your fingers and makes the tips look brighter. Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2023 The National Climate Assessment projected more heavy rain events and elongated dry spells with intensifying droughts in many areas of the United States. USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023 Even so, our country’s asphalt limbs have mostly ceased to elongate, petrified into something like their eternal shape. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023 Going longer is better than shorter, since curtains can be shortened more easily than they can be elongated. Katy Spratte Joyce, ELLE Decor, 5 Sep. 2023 Russian mission control attempted to compensate by elongating Luna-24’s trajectory into an ellipse ranging from 11 to 41 miles distant from the Moon’s surface. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2023 On the building's outside were a glowing marquee, stately trim and elongated ornate windows. The Indianapolis Star, 22 Aug. 2023 All of their bodies are elongated and partially illuminated by a lamp, which casts one half of the picture in brightness. M. Z. Adnan, The New Yorker, 29 July 2023 The same pattern was repeated last year, effectively elongating the holiday sales season. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 16 Aug. 2023
Adjective
The elongate white flower clusters (occasionally pale pink) support pollinators, and inky-black berries ripen by late summer or autumn. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2023 This can help keep walls clear and elongate high ceilings, as exemplified in this kitchen designed by Andrea Pietragallo of Britt Design Studio. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 30 Mar. 2023 The small lake sits in the slightly elongate rift area where the eruption occurred. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 24 June 2011 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elongate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Late Latin elongatus, past participle of elongare to withdraw, from Latin e- + longus

First Known Use

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elongate was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near elongate

Cite this Entry

“Elongate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elongate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

elongate

1 of 2 verb
elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt How to pronounce elongate (audio)
elongated; elongating
: to make or grow longer
elongation
(ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən
noun

elongate

2 of 2 adjective
variants or elongated
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt-əd
: stretched out
especially : being much greater in length than in width

Medical Definition

elongate

1 of 2 verb
elon·​gate i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt How to pronounce elongate (audio)
elongated; elongating

transitive verb

: to extend the length of

intransitive verb

: to grow in length

elongate

2 of 2 adjective
variants or elongated
: long in proportion to width

More from Merriam-Webster on elongate

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