Protracting

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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.
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     2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to
        protract a decision or duty. --Shak.
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     3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and
        angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.
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     4. (Zool.) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract
        its claws; -- opposed to {retract}.
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