long

Ⅰ.

long [1] ► ADJECTIVE (longer, longest) 1) of a great distance or duration. 2) relatively great in extent. 3) having a specified length, distance, or duration. 4) (of a ball in sport) travelling a great distance, or further than expected. 5) Phonetics (of a vowel) categorized as long with regard to quality and length (e.g. in standard British English the vowel in food). 6) (of odds or a chance) reflecting or representing a low level of probability. 7) (of a drink) large and refreshing, and in which alcohol, if present, is not concentrated. 8) (long on) informal well supplied with.

► NOUN ▪ a long time.

► ADVERB (longer, longest) 1) for a long time. 2) at a distant time: long ago. 3) throughout a specified period of time: all day long. 4) (with reference to the ball in sport) at, to, or over a great distance.

● as (or so) long as — Cf. ↑so long as

● be long — Cf. ↑be long

● in the long run (or term) — Cf. ↑in the long term

● the long and the short of it — Cf. ↑the long and the short of it

● long in the tooth — Cf. ↑long in the tooth

DERIVATIVES longish adjective.

ORIGIN Old English.

Ⅱ.

long [2] ► VERB (long for/to do) ▪ have a strong wish for or to do.

ORIGIN Old English, «grow long», also «yearn».