longitudinal

[ lon-ji-tood-n-l, -tyood- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to longitude or length:

   longitudinal measurement.

2. extending in the direction of the length of a thing; running lengthwise:

   a thin, longitudinal stripe.

3. Zoology. pertaining to or extending along the long axis of the body, or the direction from front to back, or head to tail.
4. pertaining to a research design or survey in which the same subjects are observed repeatedly over a period of time.

noun

1. a longitudinal framing member, as in the hull of a ship.

longitudinal

/ ˌlɒŋɡ-; ˌlɒndʒɪˈtjuːdɪnəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to longitude or length
2. placed or extended lengthways Compare transverse
3. psychol (of a study of behaviour) carried on over a protracted period of time

Derived Forms

• ˌlongiˈtudinally, adverb

Other Words From

• longi·tudi·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of longitudinal¹

1535–45; < Latin longitūdin- (stem of longitūdō; longitude ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

There’s a very famous study called the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which is an 80-year longitudinal study of people, when they get old, what do they all have in common if they’re happy and well, and the answer is love.

From Freakonomics

A longitudinal study reported that university students were more open and agreeable — and less neurotic — after studying abroad, changes researchers attributed to relationships formed while traveling.

From Washington Post

So the longitudinal evidence does seem to point toward smartphones not affecting us in the long run.

From Nautilus

It will likely be close in longitudinal stiffness to the $225 shoe from the same brand, but torsional stiffness may be lacking, which can lead to fatigue or foot pain on long days.

From Outside Online

The data came from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal survey that’s been going on for years.

From Freakonomics

The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth gathered self-reported data from 1985 that sampled eye-color distributions of Americans.

From The Daily Beast

Paul: We're just beginning to gather longer term longitudinal data.

From The Daily Beast

There are also eight or nine similar white points between the base of the lower wings and the band of longitudinal spots.

From Project Gutenberg

The longitudinal drag due to the friction of a train when braked, about one-seventh of the weight of the train.

From Project Gutenberg

Great advances, or at all events alterations, have gradually been made in the longitudinal design of the boats.

From Project Gutenberg

The veins of the leaves always run parallel and in a longitudinal direction.

From Project Gutenberg

The muzzle is very thick, long, and surrounded on both sides with deep longitudinal wrinkles.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lengthwise
• long
• long-term