length
/leŋkθ/ (bre, ipa) · /leŋkθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈleŋ(k)th ˈlen(t)th/ (ame, mw) · /-leŋθ/ (bre, ipa) · /-leŋθ/ (ame, ipa)
length — 名詞
- lengthsingular
- lengthsplural
1. the distance from one end of something to the other, or how long something is wh
長度
物體從一端到另一端的距離
the distance from one end of something to the other, or how long something is when you measure it — for example, the length of a table, a river, or a piece of fabric.
Christopher measured the length of the dining table before buying a new cloth for it.
Christopher 在購買新桌巾前，量了餐桌的長度。
collocation: measure the length of something
The total length of the hiking trail is about twelve kilometres.
這條登山步道的總長度大約是十二公里。
collocation: the total / full length of something
Aoi cut the fabric to the correct length and then sewed the edges.
Aoi 把布料裁剪成正確的長度，然後縫好了邊緣。
The new sofa is exactly two metres long and fits perfectly against the wall.
新沙發剛好兩公尺長，靠牆擺放非常合適。
文法句型
the length of [noun]
measure/check the length
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of 'length'. It can be used both as countable ('three different lengths of board') and uncountable ('a river two miles in length').
常見錯誤
2. a single cut section of a long narrow material — for instance, a piece of rope,
一段；一截
繩子、電線等細長材料的一段
a single cut section of a long narrow material — for instance, a piece of rope, cable, or fabric taken from a larger roll or coil.
Paloma cut a length of ribbon and tied it around the gift box.
Paloma 剪了一段緞帶，綁在禮物盒上。
pattern: a length of [material] + purpose clause
The plumber cut a short length of copper pipe to fix the kitchen sink leak.
水電工切了一小段銅管來修理廚房水槽的漏水。
collocation: a short / long length of [material]
Ayesha bought two lengths of woollen fabric to sew winter coats for the children.
Ayesha 買了兩段毛料，準備幫孩子們縫製冬天外套。
Sofia handed the gardener a length of garden hose to water the vegetable beds.
Sofia 遞給園丁一段澆花水管，讓他澆灌菜圃。
文法句型
a length of [material]
用法筆記
Always follows 'a(n) [adjective] length of + material noun'. The material must be something long and narrow. 'A length of milk' would be incorrect.
常見錯誤
3. a unit of measurement used in horse racing or boat racing to describe the distan
馬身
賽馬或划船比賽的距離單位
a unit of measurement used in horse racing or boat racing to describe the distance between competitors, equal to the body size of one horse or the full size of one boat.
The favourite horse won the race by three lengths, far ahead of the others.
那匹熱門馬以三個馬身的距離贏得比賽，遠遠領先其他對手。
collocation: win by [number] length(s)
The Oxford rowing team finished half a length ahead of Cambridge in the final race.
牛津划船隊在決賽中以半個艇身的優勢領先劍橋。
collocation: half a length / a length ahead
Nellie's horse led by four lengths at halfway but tired near the finish.
Nellie 的馬在中途領先四個馬身，但接近終點時體力下降。
The greyhound won by two lengths, crossing the line ahead of the pack.
那隻灰狗以兩個身長的優勢獲勝，率先越過終點線。
- body length
used similarly in animal racing, especially greyhound racing
文法句型
[number] length(s)
win by [number] length(s)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the context of horse racing and rowing (boat racing). Stands as a loose, conventional unit — a 'length' is not an exact metric measurement but depends on the size of the horse or boat.
常見錯誤
4. the full distance across a swimming pool from one wall to the opposite wall, use
泳池長度
游泳池兩端之間的距離
the full distance across a swimming pool from one wall to the opposite wall, used as a unit for measuring how far a swimmer has travelled through the water.
Shirin swims twenty lengths of the pool every morning before going to work.
Shirin 每天早上上班前都會游二十趟泳池的長度。
collocation: swim [number] length(s) of the pool
The coach asked the team to do ten lengths as a warm-up before training.
教練要求隊員在訓練開始前先游十趟作為熱身。
collocation: do [number] length(s)
On her first day at the pool, Olivia swam two lengths without stopping.
Olivia 去游泳池的第一天，一口氣游了兩趟沒有停下來。
Élise completed thirty lengths of the pool as part of her daily training.
Élise 每天訓練時都會游三十趟泳池的長度。
- lap
used more commonly in American English; can mean from one end to the other and back again in some contexts
文法句型
swim [number] length(s)
do [number] length(s)
用法筆記
A 'length' of a pool is usually the long way (from one end to the other), while a 'width' (or 'lap' in some regions) is the short way across the pool. In the US, 'lap' is more common for this idea.
5. a term used in cricket that describes where the ball lands on the pitch after be
球距
板球中球著地前的飛行距離
a term used in cricket that describes where the ball lands on the pitch after being bowled — referring to how far it has travelled before bouncing for the first time relative to the batter.
The bowler's good length made the batter unsure whether to play forward or back.
投手的好球距讓打者不確定該向前還是後退擊球。
cricket terminology: good length
Tunde listened as the coach explained how a short length forces the batter back.
Tunde 聽著教練解釋短球距如何迫使打者後退。
cricket terminology: short / full length
The captain told the bowler to aim for a fuller length on this pitch.
隊長告訴投手在這塊場地上要把球投得更滿一些。
A good length delivery makes the batter decide whether to play forward or back.
好的球距投球迫使打者必須決定要向前還是向後擊球。
文法句型
good / short / full length
用法筆記
This sense is used only in cricket. A 'good length' ball bounces at a distance that makes it hard for the batter to decide whether to play forward or back. 'Short length' means the ball bounces closer to the bowler; 'full length' means it bounces closer to the batter.
常見錯誤
6. how long an event, activity, or situation continues from beginning to end — for
時間長短
某事持續的時間量
how long an event, activity, or situation continues from beginning to end — for example, the length of a film, a meeting, a school holiday, or a person's life.
The movie is just over two hours long and they should be home by ten.
這部電影剛好兩小時多一點，所以他們十點以前就能到家。
collocation: the length of a film / movie / show
The length of the meeting surprised Noa — it lasted nearly four hours.
會議的長度讓 Noa 大吃一驚——竟然開了將近四個小時。
collocation: the length of [event]
The length of the school summer holiday in Taiwan is about two months.
台灣學校的暑假長度大約是兩個月。
The length of a typical university lecture is about fifty minutes.
一般大學一堂課的長度大約是五十分鐘。
文法句型
the length of [event/time period]
用法筆記
Unlike the time words 'duration' (formal) and 'period' (neutral), 'length' is a general, everyday word. It is frequently followed by 'of' + a noun referring to an event or time span. Avoid using it with 'time' — 'the length of time' is grammatically correct but often sounds wordy; 'how long' is simpler in conversation.
常見錯誤
7. the number of words, pages, or minutes that a written or spoken piece of work co
篇幅
文字或演說的多寡
the number of words, pages, or minutes that a written or spoken piece of work contains
The length of the article surprised Nadia — it filled more than twenty pages.
那篇文章的篇幅讓 Nadia 大吃一驚——它多達二十幾頁。
length of + article/document/speech
After getting only fifteen minutes, Amihan cut the length of her talk in half.
主辦單位只給 Amihan 十五分鐘後，她把談話的篇幅縮減了一半。
cut/reduce the length of
Teachers often set a minimum length for essays so that students write enough detail.
老師們通常會規定作文的最短篇幅，確保學生寫得夠詳細。
Hyun checked the novel's length before deciding if he had time to read it.
Hyun 先確認了那本小說的篇幅，再決定有沒有時間讀它。
The editor asked Layla to shorten the length of each chapter by about five pages.
編輯請 Layla 把每章的篇幅縮短大約五頁。
文法句型
length + of + noun phrase
adjective + length
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (physical distance): this sense applies only to written or spoken material, never to physical objects. Common adjectives used with this sense include 'short', 'great', 'full', and 'minimum'.
8. covering a topic in great detail or for a very long time when speaking or writin
詳盡地
花長時間詳細說明
covering a topic in great detail or for a very long time when speaking or writing about it
Professor Okonkwo spoke at length about the history of printing during the lecture.
Okonkwo 教授在課堂上詳盡地講述了印刷術的歷史。
speak at length about
Élise wrote at length in her journal about the places she visited in Vietnam.
Élise 在日記裡詳盡地記錄了她在越南造訪過的地方。
write at length about
The committee discussed the new policy at length before reaching a decision.
委員會詳盡地討論了這項新政策，之後才做出決定。
Mert described at length the steps he had taken to restore the old wooden canoe.
Mert 詳盡地描述了他修復那艘舊木獨木舟所採取的所有步驟。
Nila could have talked at length about her research on coral reefs.
Nila 可以詳盡地談論她關於珊瑚礁的研究。
- in detail
more common in everyday English; less formal
- extensively
similar register; emphasises breadth of coverage
- thoroughly
emphasises completeness more than time spent
- briefly
opposite in both time and level of detail
文法句型
speak / talk / write / discuss + at length + about + noun
describe + noun + at length
用法筆記
Always part of the fixed phrase 'at length'. Typical verbs are those of communication (speak, talk, write, discuss, describe). Do not use with physical actions — you cannot 'walk at length' in this sense.
常見錯誤
9. used when something finally takes place after a lengthy wait or a delay has ende
終於
經過漫長等待後
used when something finally takes place after a lengthy wait or a delay has ended
At length, after months of searching, Joaquín found a job that suited his skills.
經過幾個月的尋找，Joaquín 終於找到了一份適合他技能的工作。
at length, after + time phrase
The hikers reached the mountain village at length, tired but eager to explore.
登山客們終於抵達了那座山村，雖然疲憊但迫不及待想探索一番。
At length, the judge announced the verdict and the family members sighed with relief.
法官終於宣布了判決，家屬鬆了一口氣。
Kemi completed the difficult painting at length and signed her name at the bottom.
Kemi 終於完成了那幅難度很高的畫作，並在底部簽上了自己的名字。
At length, after years of saving, the Matsuda family bought their first home together.
經過多年的存錢，松田家終於買下了他們的第一間房子。
- finally
more common in everyday English; less formal
- eventually
very similar; slightly less formal
- in the end
informal alternative; more common in conversation
- immediately
opposite in timing — without any delay
文法句型
at length, + clause
clause + at length
用法筆記
This sense of 'at length' means 'finally' or 'after a long wait', not 'in detail'. It often appears at the beginning of a sentence. To tell it apart from sense 8: if the sentence is about the final outcome of a wait or delay, this is sense 9; if it is about how something was said or written, it is sense 8.
常見錯誤
length — 字尾
1. forms a compound adjective meaning that something extends down to or as far as a
…長；及…
表示某物長度達到某一身體部位或位置
forms a compound adjective meaning that something extends down to or as far as a specific body part or position — for example, knee-length describes a skirt that ends at the knees, and shoulder-length describes hair that reaches the shoulders.
Wei wore a pair of knee-length boots during the hiking trip in the mountains.
Wei 穿著一雙及膝的靴子去山區健行。
knee-length: reaching down to the knee
The tailor suggested ankle-length trousers for the summer wedding party.
裁縫建議他在夏季婚禮上穿及踝的長褲。
Hoa asked for a shoulder-length cut so her hair would be easier to manage.
Hoa 請設計師幫她剪及肩的長度，這樣比較好整理。
Liam bought floor-length curtains to block the cold draught from the window.
Liam 買了落地窗簾來擋住窗戶吹進來的冷風。
- reaching
used with a different grammatical pattern ('reaching to the knees') but conveys similar meaning
文法句型
[body part or position] + -length
用法筆記
Always hyphenated when used before a noun (knee-length skirt, ankle-length trousers). The body part or position noun is never pluralised — 'knee-length' not 'knees-length'. Common body-position bases: knee, shoulder, ankle, waist, floor, elbow.
常見錯誤
2. used after a word describing a standard category or time to form an adjective me
全長；片長
表示具有完整的影片或作品長度
used after a word describing a standard category or time to form an adjective meaning that something has the normal or complete duration — for example, a film that runs a full standard duration is a full-length film, and a documentary long enough to be a feature is a feature-length documentary.
The streaming service released a full-length documentary about coral reef restoration.
該串流平台推出了一部全長紀錄片，探討珊瑚礁復育議題。
full-length: of standard or complete duration
Diya prefers reading full-length novels rather than short stories or novellas.
Diya 比較喜歡讀完整的長篇小說，而不是短篇故事或中篇小說。
The band spent a year in the studio recording a full-length album.
這個樂團花了一年的時間在錄音室錄製一張完整專輯。
The theatre company staged a full-length play by a local playwright.
劇團上演了一齣由本地劇作家創作的完整舞台劇。
- complete
emphasises that nothing has been cut or shortened, while '-length' emphasises the standard duration
- standard-length
more explicit but less common; used interchangeably with 'full-length'
- short
a short film or short story is deliberately shorter than the standard length
文法句型
[time or category] + -length
用法筆記
By far the most common form is 'full-length', which can describe films, books, plays, and albums. 'Feature-length' is also common in film contexts and means 'long enough to be a feature film (typically over 60 minutes).' When the specific time is given, a different structure is preferred ('a two-hour film' rather than 'a two-hour-length film').