elongate

American  

[ih-lawng-geyt, ih-long-, ee-lawng-geyt, ee-long-] / ɪˈlɔŋ geɪt, ɪˈlɒŋ-, ˈi lɔŋˌgeɪt, ˈi lɒŋ- /

verb (used with object)

elongates, present (3rd person singular) elongated, past participle, past elongating present participle

1. to draw out to greater length; lengthen; extend.

---

verb (used without object)

elongates, present (3rd person singular) elongated, past participle, past elongating present participle

1. to increase in length.

adjective

1. extended; lengthened.

2. long and thin.

elongate British  

/ ˈiːlɒŋɡeɪt /

verb

1. to make or become longer; stretch

---

adjective

1. long and narrow; slender

   elongate leaves

2. lengthened or tapered

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• elongative
  adjective
• subelongate
  adjective
• subelongated
  adjective
• unelongated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• elongating
  present
• elongated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• elongate
  simple
• elongates
  simple
• have elongated
  perfect
• has elongated
  perfect
• am elongating
  progressive
• are elongating
  progressive
• is elongating
  progressive
• have been elongating
  perfect progressive
• has been elongating
  perfect progressive

Past

• elongated
  simple
• had elongated
  perfect
• was elongating
  progressive
• were elongating
  progressive
• had been elongating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will elongate
  simple
• will have elongated
  perfect
• will be elongating
  progressive
• will have been elongating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of elongate

1530–40; < Late Latin ēlongātus lengthened out, past participle of ēlongāre to make longer, make distant, remove, equivalent to Latin ē- e- ¹ + -longāre, derivative of longus long ¹, longē far off

Explanation

When you lengthen or extend something, you elongate it. A yoga teacher might encourage you to reach up as high as you can, so that you elongate your spine. The verb elongate means "to make long or longer," and it stems from the Late Latin elongare, "to extend or prolong." When you stretch something out, especially when it's longer than it is wide, you can say you elongate it. This word can also apply to non-tangible things: Your principal might elongate the semester if you have too many snow days, and you might elongate your vowels when speaking a foreign language. In science, it's also used as an adjective, for long, narrow creatives like elongate fish (otherwise known as eels).

Related Words

• draw out
• lengthen