protract

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pro=tract

CIDE DICTIONARY

protract, v. t. [L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait, Portray.].

•  To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a war.  [1913 Webster]
•  To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.  [1913 Webster]
•  To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to retract.  [1913 Webster]

protract, n. [L. protractus.].

 Tedious continuance or delay.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

protract, v.tr.
1 prolong or lengthen in space or esp. time (protracted their stay for some weeks).
2 draw (a plan of ground etc.) to scale.

Derivative

protractedly adv. protractedness n.

Etymology

L protrahere protract- (as PRO-(1), trahere draw)

THESAURUS

protract

adjourn, chatter, continue, dawdle, defer, delay, drag out, draw, draw out, dwell on, elongate, extend, fill out, hang fire, hang up, hold, hold off, hold over, hold up, keep, keep alive, keep going, keep up, lay aside, lay by, lay over, lengthen, lengthen out, let out, linger on, maintain, never finish, pad, perorate, perpetuate, pigeonhole, postpone, preserve, procrastinate, produce, prolong, prolongate, prorogate, prorogue, pull, push aside, put aside, put off, put on ice, recess, reserve, retain, run out, set aside, set by, shelve, shift off, sleep on, speak at length, spin out, stand over, stave off, stay, strain, stretch, stretch out, string out, suspend, sustain, table, take a recess, tauten, temporize, tense, tighten, waive

ROGET THESAURUS

protract

Diffuseness

VB be diffuse, run out on, descant, expatiate, enlarge, dilate, amplify, expand, inflate, launch out, branch out, rant, maunder, prose, harp upon, dwell on, insist upon, digress, ramble, battre la campagne, beat about the bush, perorate, spin a long yarn, protract, spin out, swell out, draw out, battologize.

Diuturnity

VB last, endure, stand, remain, abide, continue, brave a thousand years, tarry, drag on, drag its slow length along, drag a lengthening chain, protract, prolong, spin out, eke out, draw out, lengthen out, temporize, gain time, make time, talk against time, outlast, outlive, survive, live to fight again.

Lateness

VB be late, tarry, wait, stay, bide, take time, dawdle, linger, loiter, bide one's time, take one's time, gain time, hang fire, stand over, lie over, put off, defer, delay, lay over, suspend, table, shift off, stave off, waive, retard, remand, postpone, adjourn, procrastinate, dally, prolong, protract, spin out, draw out, lengthen out, stretch out, prorogue, keep back, tide over, push to the last, drive to the last, let the matter stand over, reserve, temporize, consult one's pillow, sleep on it, lose an opportunity, be kept waiting, dance attendance, kick one's heels, cool one's heels, faire antichambre, wait impatiently, await, sit up, sit up at night.

Length

VB be long, stretch out, sprawl, extend to, reach to, stretch to, make a long arm, drag its slow length along, render long, lengthen, extend, elongate, stretch, prolong, produce, protract, let out, draw out, spin out, drawl, enfilade, look along, view in perspective, distend (expand).