elongate

verb elon·gate \ i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt , (ˌ)ē- , ˈē-ˌlȯŋ- \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of elongate

elongated; elongating

transitive verb

: to extend the length of

intransitive verb

: to grow in length

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Examples of elongate in a Sentence

These stretching exercises can help elongate your leg muscles.
New medical procedures have elongated the careers of many athletes.

Recent Examples of elongate from the Web

Back indoors, where the carpet provides more friction, Dyret could afford to elongate its legs and take longer, more forceful strides.

— matt simon, WIRED, "The Shape-Shifting Robot That Evolves by Falling Down," 18 May 2018
Just before bolting, lettuce plants start to elongate and form a bitter sap.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "How To Grow Nutritious Lettuce Greens All Year Long," 15 June 2017
The oak catkins have elongated, however, on and off cooler temperatures and rain showers have helped to keep the tree count down.

— ian livingston, Washington Post, "PM Update: After a pleasant night, the heat gets turned up Wednesday," 1 May 2018
Adjustments elongated the slide to reduce the incline of the hump.

— steve vockrodt scott canon and katy bergen, kansascity, "The making of Schlitterbahn’s Verrückt water slide: Too much, too fast? | The Kansas City Star," 12 Aug. 2016
Faces twist into looks of deep concentration, and bodies elongate to balance themselves.

— bronwen dickey, Popular Mechanics, "The Lost Kids on the Line," 14 Mar. 2018
For all herbs, proper storage is key for elongating shelf life.

— aliza abarbanel, Bon Appetit, "How to Store Vegetables in the Fridge so They Stay Super Fresh," 20 Feb. 2018
Exaggerated sleeves with a ruffle detail had an elongating effect similar to the Erdem's bell-like silhouette.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Kate Middleton’s Runway-Worthy Maternity Dress Is $255—And Already Sold Out," 7 Mar. 2018
Then, blow dry the back section while gently grabbing and pulling your curls with your fingers to elongate and shape your style. 6.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "7 Easy Ways to Style Textured, Curly, or Wavy Hair," 10 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elongate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.