long¹ / lông; läng/ • adj. (long·er / ˈlônggər; ˈläng-/ , long·est / lônggist; ˈläng-/ ) 1. measuring a great distance from end to end: a long corridor long black hair the line for tickets was long. ∎  (after a measurement and in questions) measuring a specified distance from end to end: a boat 150 feet long how long is the leash? ∎  (of a journey) covering a great distance: I went for a long walk. ∎  (of a garment or sleeves on a garment) covering the whole of a person's legs or arms: a sweater with long sleeves. ∎  of elongated shape: shaped like a torpedo, long and thin. ∎  (of a ball in sports) traveling a great distance, or further than expected or intended: he threw a long ball to the catcher. ∎ inf. (of a person) tall.2. lasting or taking a great amount of time: a long and distinguished career | she took a long time to dress. ∎  (after a noun of duration and in questions) lasting or taking a specified amount of time: the debates will be 90 minutes long. ∎  seeming to last more time than is the case; lengthy or tedious: serving long hours on the committee. ∎  (of a person's memory) retaining things for a great amount of time.3. relatively great in extent: write a long report a long list of candidates. ∎  (after a noun of extent and in questions) having a specified extent: the statement was three pages long.4. Phonet. (of a vowel) categorized as long with regard to quality and length (e.g., in standard American English, the vowel in food is long, as distinct from the short vowel in good). ∎ Prosody (of a vowel or syllable) having the greater of the two recognized durations.5. (of odds or a chance) reflecting or representing a low level of probability: winning against long odds you're taking a long chance.6. Finance (of shares, bonds, or other assets) bought in advance, with the expectation of a rise in price. ∎  (of a broker or their position in the market) buying or based on long stocks. ∎  (of a security) maturing at a distant date.7. (long on) inf. well-supplied with: an industry that seems long on ideas but short on cash.• n. 1. a long interval or period: see you before long it will not be for long.2. a long sound such as a long signal in Morse code or a long vowel or syllable: two longs and a short.3. (longs) Finance long-dated securities, esp. gilt-edged securities. ∎  assets held in a long position.• adv. (longer; longest) 1. for a long time: we hadn't known them long an experience they will long remember his long-awaited Grand Prix debut. ∎  in questions about a period of time: how long have you been working? ∎  at a time distant from a specified event or point of time: it was abandoned long ago the work was compiled long after his death. ∎  after an implied point of time: he could not wait any longer. ∎  (after a noun of duration) throughout a specified period of time: it rained all day long.2. (with reference to the ball in sports) at, to, or over a great distance, or further than expected or intended: the quarterback dropped back and threw the ball long. ∎  beyond the point aimed at; too far: he threw the ball long.PHRASES: as (or so) long as1. during the whole time that: they have been there as long as anyone can remember.2. provided that: as long as you fed him, he would be cooperative.be long take a long time to happen or arrive: it won't be long before you're hooked sit down, tea won't be long.in the long run over or after a long period of time; eventually: it saves money in the long run.the long and the short of it all that can or need be said: the long and short of it is that he got himself mugged.long in the tooth rather old.long time no see inf. it's a long time since we last met (used as a greeting).not by a long shot by no means: we're not there yet, not by a long shot.take the long view think beyond the current situation; plan for the future.DERIVATIVES: long·ish adj.long² • v. [intr.] have a strong wish or desire: she longed for a little more excitement | we are longing to see the new baby.