elongation
noun
elon·ga·tion
(ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən 
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
2
a
: the state of being elongated or lengthened
also
: the process of elongating
b
: something that is elongated
Synonyms
Examples of elongation in a Sentence
the elongation of artificial fibers in the manufacturing process
Recent Examples on the Web
Simultaneously, the root continues its elongation to eventually launch off the crown from within the bone across the gum to appear in the mouth – the event known as teething.
—
Samer Zaky, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2024
Their trial-and-error journeys consume much more screen time than warranted, and also force an unnecessary elongation of the period where Daniela is oblivious that the man who shares her bed isn’t really her husband.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
End of carousel During this peduncle elongation stage, the stalks bearing the blossom buds extend and, while the buds are still closed, the flowers become visible.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Look low toward the western horizon around 40 minutes after sunset to catch Mercury, which will be at its greatest eastern elongation, just beneath and right from bright Jupiter.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024
The planet is set for its greatest western elongation just before dawn, or around 6:20 a.m. in your local time zone.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
For instance, the greatest eastern elongation—or when the planet is visible at night—is on March 24, 2024.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Viewing conditions will improve until February 27th, when Mercury reaches its greatest elongation 18 east of the sun.
—Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2019
This is the seventh season of Big Mouth, and even though there’s only one more planned after this, spending seven years depicting life in middle school is only a slightly lesser elongation of time than M*A*S*H needing 11 years to chronicle a war that only lasted for two.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2023
Samer Zaky, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2024
Their trial-and-error journeys consume much more screen time than warranted, and also force an unnecessary elongation of the period where Daniela is oblivious that the man who shares her bed isn’t really her husband.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
End of carousel During this peduncle elongation stage, the stalks bearing the blossom buds extend and, while the buds are still closed, the flowers become visible.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Look low toward the western horizon around 40 minutes after sunset to catch Mercury, which will be at its greatest eastern elongation, just beneath and right from bright Jupiter.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024
The planet is set for its greatest western elongation just before dawn, or around 6:20 a.m. in your local time zone.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
For instance, the greatest eastern elongation—or when the planet is visible at night—is on March 24, 2024.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Viewing conditions will improve until February 27th, when Mercury reaches its greatest elongation 18 east of the sun.
—Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2019
This is the seventh season of Big Mouth, and even though there’s only one more planned after this, spending seven years depicting life in middle school is only a slightly lesser elongation of time than M*A*S*H needing 11 years to chronicle a war that only lasted for two.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elongation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near elongation
Cite this Entry
“Elongation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elongation. Accessed 22 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
elongation
noun
elon·ga·tion
(ˌ)ē-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgā-shən
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
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