protract

protractverb/pɹəˈtɹakt/

• 1

  To draw out; to extend, especially in duration.

  • Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock; Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.
  • 1755, Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, London: J. and P. Knapton et al., Volume 1, Preface, I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please, have sunk into the grave […]
• 2

  To use a protractor.

• 3

  geographynatural-sciencessurveyingTo draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.

  • This is a synopsis of our marches, which, protracted on Burckhardt’s map, gives an error of ten miles.
• 4

  To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer.

  • to protract a decision or duty
  • […] Let us bury him, And not protract with admiration what Is now due debt. To the grave!
• 5

  To extend; to protrude.

  • A cat can protract and retract its claws.