protract
UK/prə'trækt/US/prәu'trækt/
IELTSTOEFLGREB1
Definitions
v.
To prolong or draw out (something) in time, usually unnecessarily.
延长，拖延（时间）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedpro- (forward) + tract (pull) = 'pull forward.' To protract a meeting is to keep pulling it forward in time so it never ends — a stretched-out, often tiresome prolonging.
Root tra still carries 109 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.protract negotiations拖延谈判
- 2.protract a dispute拖延争端
- 3.protract the agony延长痛苦
Example Sentences
- 1.
Neither side wanted to protract the negotiations any further.
- 2.
The court tried to avoid protracting the trial unnecessarily.