elongation

noun

elon·ga·tion (ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən

: the angular distance in the sky between a celestial body and another around which it revolves or between a celestial body and a particular point (such as the point where its path intersects the horizon)

the elongation of Venus from the Sun

: the state of being elongated or lengthened

also : the process of elongating

: something that is elongated

Examples of elongation in a Sentence

the elongation of artificial fibers in the manufacturing process

Recent Examples on the Web Viewing conditions will improve until February 27th, when Mercury reaches its greatest elongation 18 east of the sun. —

Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2019 This is the seventh season of Big Mouth, and even though there’s only one more planned after this, spending seven years depicting life in middle school is only a slightly lesser elongation of time than M*A*S*H needing 11 years to chronicle a war that only lasted for two. —

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2023 Nudged ahead by sunshine and highs in the 50s last week, the buds hit Stage 4 out of 6 on Saturday, known as peduncle elongation. —

Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2023 The series, which is interweaving as many as three different timelines at once, simultaneously explores how a case like this could stretch over 16 years and engages in narrative elongation of its own, with reenactments of the tragedy and shifts in perspective that push each episode to over an hour. —

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2022 Scientists think the upward tilt and elongation of its rectangular eyes are adaptations to help the glass octopus avoid predation. —

Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2016 June 3: Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation After sunset on June 3, Venus will hover at its furthest separation from the sun — 45 degrees east of it — making this a perfect night to spot our solar system’s brightest planet. —

Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2023 However, the one on the left appears to be right on the big crater's rim, so the elongation may be due to the ground angle changing. —

Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2011 The speedy planet will hit its greatest morning elongation at 24.9 degrees from the sun before sunrise this morning. —

Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2023 See More

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