elongation
|e-long-a-tion|
🇺🇸
/ɪˌlɔːŋˈɡeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ɪˌlɒŋˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/
making longer / becoming longer
Etymology
'elongation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'elongatio' (from the verb 'elongare'), where the prefix 'e-/ex-' meant 'out' or 'away' and 'longus' meant 'long'.
'elongation' entered English via Middle English 'elongacioun' or Old French 'elongacion', derived from Latin 'elongatio'; the Latin verb 'elongare' ('to make long') is formed from 'ex-' + 'longare' (related to 'longus').
Initially it meant 'the act of making long' in a general sense; over time it acquired specialized technical senses (e.g., material stretch, astronomical angular separation) while retaining the general sense of 'lengthening'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of making something longer, or the state of being lengthened.
The elongation of the metal rod was measured after heating.
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Noun 2
in materials science and engineering, the amount (often percentage) a material stretches before breaking (elongation at break).
The polymer showed an elongation of 120% in the tensile test.
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Noun 3
in astronomy, the angular distance of a planet or other celestial body from the Sun as seen from Earth.
Venus reaches its greatest elongation from the Sun tonight.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 10:58