protract

[proh-trakt, pruh-]

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verb (used with object)

to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; prolong.
Anatomy. to extend or protrude.
(in surveying, mathematics, etc.) to plot and draw (lines) with a scale and a protractor.

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, tract¹

Related formspro·tract·ed·ly, adverbpro·tract·ed·ness, nounpro·tract·i·ble, adjectivepro·trac·tive, adjectiveo·ver·pro·tract, verb (used with object)un·pro·tract·ed, adjectiveun·pro·trac·tive, adjective

Synonyms for protract

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1. continue. See lengthen.

Antonyms for protract

1. curtail.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for protract

prolong, defer, draw, stretch, lengthen, procrastinate, delay, continue, pad, elongate, postpone, stall, cool, prolongate

Examples from the Web for protract

Historical Examples of protract

The heroism of the Spaniards might protract, but could not avert their fall.
Gomez Arias
Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
Their mission is not rescue, it is only to prolong a struggle, to protract a fate.'
Gerald Fitzgerald
Charles James Lever
To draw forward; to extend or prolong; as, “England desired not to protract the war.”
Orthography
Elmer W. Cavins
These are the arts which protract the existence of government.
The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, Vol. 1 (of 4)
Thomas Babington Macaulay
It is almost better to decide wrong than to protract the contest.
As I Remember
Marian Gouverneur

British Dictionary definitions for protract

protract

verb (tr)

to lengthen or extend (a speech, etc); prolong in time
(of a muscle) to draw, thrust, or extend (a part, etc) forwards
to plot or draw using a protractor and scale

Derived Formsprotractive, adjective

Word Origin for protract

C16: from Latin prōtrahere to prolong, from pro- 1 + trahere to drag

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for protract

1530s, a back-formation from protraction and in part from Latin protractus, past participle of protrahere "to draw forth, prolong." Etymologically identical with portray, which was altered in French. Related: Protracted; protracting.

protract in Medicine

protract

[prō-trăkt′]

To extend or protrude a body part.