protract

American  

[proh-trakt, pruh-] / proʊˈtrækt, prə- /

verb (used with object)

1. to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; prolong.

   Synonyms:

   continue

   Antonyms:

   curtail

2. Anatomy.  to extend or protrude.

3. (in surveying, mathematics, etc.) to plot and draw (lines) with a scale and a protractor.

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protract British  

/ prəˈtrækt /

verb

1. to lengthen or extend (a speech, etc); prolong in time

2. (of a muscle) to draw, thrust, or extend (a part, etc) forwards

3. to plot or draw using a protractor and scale

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Related Words

See lengthen.

Other Word Forms

• overprotract verb (used with object)
• protractedly adverb
• protractedness noun
• protractible adjective
• protractive adjective
• unprotracted adjective
• unprotractive adjective

Etymology

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, tract ¹

Example Sentences

LFB scaled up its operation after originally deploying 70 firefighters, describing it as a "protracted incident", adding crews would be "carrying out firefighting operations throughout the day".

From BBC

In other cases, agreements ahead of time can avoid protracted legal fights.

From The Wall Street Journal

It comes a week after US investment group RedBird Capital Partners abruptly abandoned its takeover, reigniting uncertainty over the paper's future and extending a protracted sale marked by government intervenion.

From Barron's

Still, in 2011, the debt fight was so protracted that it prompted Standard & Poor’s to downgrade U.S. debt for the first time, from its top AAA rating, on the basis of governance.

From Los Angeles Times

That was lower than in the probability in the 2011 debt ceiling crisis, when a protracted legislative standoff prompted Standard & Poor’s to downgrade the U.S. credit rating for the first time.

From Reuters

Related Words

• prolong
• put off