E-lon-gā'tion, n.
(Synop., § 130), n. [L. Lat. elongatio, Fr. élongation, It. elongazione.]
- The act of stretching or lengthening out, or the state of being lengthened out; protraction; extension. “Elongation of the fibers.” Arbuthnot.
- That which lengthens out, or makes longer; continuation.
May not the mountains of Westmoreland and Cumberland be considered as elongations of these two chains? Pinkerton. 3. Removal to a distance; recession; departure; remoteness; intervening space. The distant points in the celestial expanse appear to the eye in so small a degree of elongation from one another. Glanville.
- (Astron.) The angular distance of a planet from the sun; as, the elongation of Venus or Mercury.
- (Surg.) A partial luxation, occasioned by the stretching or lengthening of the ligaments, or the extension of a part beyond its natural dimensions.