Protract

Protract
Protract Pro*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Protracted}; p. pr. vb. n. {Protracting}.] [L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See {Portrait}, {Portray}.] 1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a war. [1913 Webster]

2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot. [1913 Webster]

4. (Zo["o]l.) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to {retract}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
, , (in time), / , (in space) / , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Protract — Pro*tract , n. [L. protractus.] Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • protract — I (prolong) verb delay, drag out, filibuster, gain time, hold up, procrastinate, retard II (stall) verb continue, elongate, extend, lengthen out, shelve, string out III index compound …   Law dictionary

  • protract — 1530s (implied in protraction), prolongation, extension of time, from L.L. protractionem a drawing out or lengthening, from pp. stem of protrahere, from pro forward + trahere to draw (see TRACT (Cf. tract) (1)). Etymologically identical with… …   Etymology dictionary

  • protract — prolong, *extend, lengthen, elongate Analogous words: *delay, retard, slow, slacken: *defer, suspend, stay, postpone Antonyms: curtail Contrasted words: *shorten, abridge, abbreviate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • protract — [v] extend, draw out continue, cool*, defer, delay, drag on*, drag out*, draw, elongate, hold off, hold up, keep going, lengthen, pad*, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, prolongate, put off, put on hold, spin out*, stall, stretch, stretch out;… …   New thesaurus

  • protract — ► VERB ▪ prolong; draw out. DERIVATIVES protracted adjective. ORIGIN Latin protrahere prolong …   English terms dictionary

  • protract — [prō trakt′, prətrakt′] vt. [< L protractus, pp. of protrahere < pro , forward + trahere, to DRAW] 1. to draw out; lengthen in duration; prolong 2. to draw to scale; using a protractor and scale 3. Zool. to thrust out; extend: cf. RETRACT… …   English World dictionary

  • protract — verb a) To draw out; to extend, especially in duration. No one wanted Nicolette at the discussion, as she would protract the debate long beyond any reasonable limit with her tedious and tangential arguments. b) To use a protractor. Syn: prolong …   Wiktionary

  • protract — verb prolong; draw out. Origin C16: from L. protract , protrahere prolong , from pro out + trahere to draw …   English new terms dictionary

  • protract — verb the opposition will try to protract the discussion Syn: prolong, lengthen, extend, draw out, drag out, spin out, stretch out, string out, elongate; carry on, continue, keep up, perpetuate Ant: curtail, shorten …   Thesaurus of popular words

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