ˈdɪs.tɪns djʊˈɹeɪʃn̩ dəˈɹeɪʃn̩ lɛŋ(k)θ a section of something that is long and narrow a length of timber a length of tubing continuance in time the ceremony was of short duration he complained about the length of time required the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place the length of the table was 5 feet size of the gap between two places the distance from New York to Chicago he determined the length of the shortest line segment joining the two points the property of being the extent of something from beginning to end the editor limited the length of my article to 500 words