elongated

1 of 2

adjective

elon·​gat·​ed i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgā-təd How to pronounce elongated (audio)
(ˌ)ē-,
ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-
variants or less commonly elongate
i-ˈlȯŋ-ˌgāt How to pronounce elongated (audio)
(ˌ)ē-,
ˈē-ˌlȯŋ-
1
: stretched out : made or grown long or longer
an elongated sound
an elongated version of the text
… it's an elongated process, filled with false starts, reversals, setbacks, stumbling blocks and lots of experimentation.Steven Mintz
2
: long and slender : having a form notably long in comparison to its width
an elongated shape
an elongated head
I then made an elongated slot in each drawer for a recessed drawer pull.Matthias Wandel
On the building's outside were a glowing marquee, stately trim and elongated ornate windows.Domenica Bongiovanni
… a young … star that follows a very elongated orbit …Dennis Overbye

Note: The spelling elongate is used especially in technical and scientific contexts (such as descriptions of organisms or their parts).

an elongate fish
an elongate cell
… a perennial that grows as a rosette of elongate leaves …Mark D. Camara
… the striations parallel the elongate shape of the stone …Robert M. Thorson
The Black Hills uplift is in the shape of an elongate dome comprising an area about 125 miles long and about 60 miles wide.U.S. Geological Survey

elongated

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of elongate entry 1

Examples of elongated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Worm lizards are well adapted for underground life, with elongated bodies, reduced or no limbs, rudimentary eyes and tough, ring-like scales. Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024 The Gothic romance casts a very elongated shadow of influence over many, many books. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024 Going in a head-to-toe, monochromatic OOTD creates an elongated look while punctuating a palette of neutrals with a pop of burgundy is also a fun way to play the trend. Jane Hanson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Though the elongated, horizontal silhouette is undoubtedly a classic, the east-west style has a flirty edge, perhaps thanks to its smaller size or ability to complete an evening look. Angela Law, refinery29.com, 29 Feb. 2024 With an elongated, curved toe and a laceless slip-on construction, the Reptile Sneaker is one of Balenciaga’s most jarring offerings yet—which will likely only further its appeal to devotees of the brand’s experimental approach. Riley Jones For Footwear News, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2024 On the far edge of a small hill, another pear tree, its fruits more elongated, matches the Bufalini fresco. Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 The camera bar is now an elongated, free-floating camera oval protruding from the back of the phone. Allison Johnson, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2024 The original Netflix version (A Child of War) was mostly fantastical, but this elongated, misguided version never builds dramatically and is full of dread. Armond White, National Review, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of elongate entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of elongated was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near elongated

Cite this Entry

“Elongated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elongated. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!