protract

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (1)

lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer“We prolonged our stay”“She extended her visit by another day”“The meeting was drawn out until midnight”Synonyms: prolong extend draw out

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Protract \Pro*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Protracted; p. pr. vb. n. Protracting.] [L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait, Portray.]

1.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]

2.To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3.(Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot. [1913 Webster]

4.(Zool.) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to retract. [1913 Webster]

Protract \Pro*tract"\, n. [L. protractus.] Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]