Dictionary.com

protract

[ proh-trakt, pruh- ]
/ proʊˈtrækt, prə- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR protract ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

FOR LEXICAL ALIMENTATION, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Nourish your vocabulary with a refresher on the words from the week of September 14–20, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “blatherskite” mean?
a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

synonym study for protract

1. See lengthen.

OTHER WORDS FROM protract

Words nearby protract

protozoiasis, protozoicide, protozoology, protozoon, protozoophage, protract, protracted, protractile, protraction, protractor, protriptyline
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to protract

prolong, put off, defer, draw, stretch, lengthen, procrastinate, delay, continue, pad, elongate, postpone, stall, cool, drag out, hold up, prolongate, drag on, hold off, put on hold

Example sentences from the Web for protract

British Dictionary definitions for protract

protract
/ (prəˈtrækt) /

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 forms of protract

protractive, 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

Medical definitions for protract

protract
[ prō-trăkt′ ]

v.

To extend or protrude a body part.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.