1 elongation | Definition of elongation
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

elongation

noun
elon·​ga·​tion | \ (ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce elongation (audio) \

Definition of elongation

1 : the angular distance in the sky between a celestial body and another around which it revolves or between a celestial body and a particular point (such as the point where its path intersects the horizon) the elongation of Venus from the Sun
2a : the state of being elongated or lengthened also : the process of elongating
b : something that is elongated
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about elongation

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of elongation in a Sentence

the elongation of artificial fibers in the manufacturing process

Recent Examples on the Web

 At the same time, his colleague Robert Harrington, also at the Naval Observatory calculated what the elongation should be if the bump was a moon. — Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com, "Celebrating 40 Years of Pluto's Largest Moon, Charon," 14 July 2018 Pink-red Mercury is nearing its greatest elongation from the sun. — Arnold Pearlstein, sun-sentinel.com, "The Stars This Week: Aug. 4-10," 4 Aug. 2019 The ancient skull fragment from Apidima lacks this elongation. — Maya Wei-haas, National Geographic, "Enigmatic skull may be the oldest modern human outside Africa. But questions abound.," 10 July 2019 Mercury reaches greatest elongation or farthest distance from the sun. — Arnold Pearlstein, sun-sentinel.com, "The Stars This Week: June 23-29," 23 June 2019 The delicate structure and extreme elongation of this fossilized vertebra strongly suggests its role not as a weapon, but as a warning. — Jill Kiedaisch, Popular Mechanics, "Newly Discovered Dinos Had Badass Bone Mohawks," 7 Feb. 2019 Blanc has an elegant creepiness, almost ghostly in her elongation but always quietly in control. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "Suspiria and Border offer two very different tales of otherworldly creatures," 26 Oct. 2018 Christy combed through the observatory's image archives to measure the angle where the elongation appeared. — Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com, "Celebrating 40 Years of Pluto's Largest Moon, Charon," 14 July 2018 Signs of florets and peduncle elongation are already being seen and usually occur about 10 days before peak bloom is reached, according to local radio station 97.1 WASH-FM. — Jenae Sitzes, Country Living, "Washington, DC's Cherry Blossom Trees are Blooming Weeks Earlier Than Usual," 27 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elongation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of elongation

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for elongation

elongation

noun
elon·​ga·​tion | \ (ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce elongation (audio) \

Medical Definition of elongation

1 : the state of being elongated or lengthened also : the process of growing or increasing in length chain elongation in DNA synthesis the elongation of a muscle under tension
2 : something that is elongated

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!