Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - long

 I. adjective  (~er; ~est)  Etymology: Middle English ~, lang, from Old English; akin to Old High German lang ~, Latin ~us  Date: before 12th century  1.  a. extending for a considerable distance  b. having greater length than usual a ~ corridor  c. having greater height than usual ; tall  d. having a greater length than breadth ; e~ated  e. having a greater length than desirable or necessary the column is one line too ~  f. full-length ~ pants  2.  a. having a specified length six feet ~  b. forming the chief linear dimension the ~ side of the room  3.  a. extending over a considerable time a ~ friendship  b. having a specified duration two hours ~  c. pro~ed beyond the usual time a ~ look  d. lasting too ~ ; tedious a ~ explanation  4.  a. containing many items in a series a ~ list  b. having a specified number of units 300 pages ~  c. consisting of a greater number or amount than usual ; large  5.  a. of a speech sound having a relatively ~ duration  b. being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel ~ in duration ~ a in fate ~ i in sign  c. of a syllable in prosody  (1) of relatively extended duration  (2) bearing a stress or accent  6. having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance a ~ left jab tried to hit the ~ ball  7. larger or ~er than the standard a ~ count by the referee  8.  a. extending far into the future the thoughts of youth are ~, ~ thoughts — H. W. Longfellow  b. extending beyond what is known a ~ guess  c. payable after a considerable period a ~ note  9. possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified ; strong ~ on common sense  10.  a. of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side ~ odds  b. of or relating to the larger amount wagered take the ~ end of the bet  11. subject to great odds  12. owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices they are now ~ on wheat take a ~ position in steel  • ~ness noun  II. adverb  Date: before 12th century  1. for or during a ~ time ~ a popular hangout  2. at or to a ~ distance ; far ~-traveled  3. for the duration of a specified period month-~ all summer ~  4. at a point of time far before or after a specified moment or event was excited ~ before the big day  5. after or beyond a specified or implied time didn't stay ~er than midnight said it was no ~er possible  6. for a considerable distance threw the ball ~  7. in or into a ~ position (as on a market)  III. noun  Date: before 12th century  1. a ~ period of time  2. a ~ syllable  3. one taking a ~ position especially in a security or commodity market  4.  a. plural ~ trousers  b. a size in clothing for tall men  IV. intransitive verb  (~ed; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English langian; akin to Old High German langen to ~, Old English lang ~  Date: before 12th century to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained they ~ for peace ~ing to return home  • ~er noun Synonyms:  ~, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something. ~ implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain ~ed for some rest. yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful ~ing yearned for a stage career. hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire always hankering for money. pine implies a languishing or a fruitless ~ing for what is impossible pined for a lost love. hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need hungered for a business of his own thirsted for power.  V. intransitive verb  Etymology: Middle English, from a~ (on) because (of)  Date: 13th century archaic to be suitable or fitting  VI. abbreviation ~itude LONG  I. biographical name Crawford Williamson 1815-1878 American surgeon  II. biographical name Huey Pierce 1893-1935 American politician  III. biographical name Stephen Harriman 1784-1864 American army officer & explorer