protract

American  

[proh-trakt, pruh-] / proʊˈtrækt, prə- /

verb (used with object)

1. to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; prolong.

   Synonyms:

   continue

   Antonyms:

   curtail

2. Anatomy.  to extend or protrude.

3. (in surveying, mathematics, etc.) to plot and draw (lines) with a scale and a protractor.

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protract British  

/ prəˈtrækt /

verb

1. to lengthen or extend (a speech, etc); prolong in time

2. (of a muscle) to draw, thrust, or extend (a part, etc) forwards

3. to plot or draw using a protractor and scale

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Related Words

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

• overprotract verb (used with object)
• protractedly adverb
• protractedness noun
• protractible adjective
• protractive adjective
• unprotracted adjective
• unprotractive adjective

Etymology

Origin of protract

First recorded in 1540–50, protract is from the Latin word prōtractus (past participle of prōtrahere “to draw forth, prolong”). See pro- ¹, tract ¹

Example Sentences

LFB scaled up its operation after originally deploying 70 firefighters, describing it as a "protracted incident", adding crews would be "carrying out firefighting operations throughout the day".

From BBC

In other cases, agreements ahead of time can avoid protracted legal fights.

From The Wall Street Journal

It comes a week after US investment group RedBird Capital Partners abruptly abandoned its takeover, reigniting uncertainty over the paper's future and extending a protracted sale marked by government intervenion.

From Barron's

The collapse of the deal is the latest twist in a protracted tussle for control of The Telegraph, a politically influential paper with strong ties to Britain’s Conservative Party.

From The Wall Street Journal

The upgrade comes as Infineon seeks to turn the page on a protracted downturn in demand for less sophisticated chips used in cars, industrial machinery and consumer electronics.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• prolong
• put off