v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protracted; p. pr. vb. n. Protracting. ] [ L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait, Portray. ] 1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a war. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to retract. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. protractus. ] Tedious continuance or delay. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Prolonged; continued. [ 1913 Webster ]

Protracted meeting, a religious meeting continued for many successive days. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pro*tract"ed*ly, adv. -- Pro*tract"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A protractor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being protracted, or protruded; protrusile. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. protractio. ] 1. A drawing out, or continuing; the act of delaying the termination of a thing; prolongation; continuance; delay; as, the protraction of a debate. [ 1913 Webster ]

A protraction only of what is worst in life. Mallock. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Surv.) (a) The act or process of making a plot on paper. (b) A plot on paper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Drawing out or lengthening in time; prolonging; continuing; delaying. [ 1913 Webster ]

He suffered their protractive arts. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, protracts, or causes protraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A mathematical instrument for laying down and measuring angles on paper, used in drawing or in plotting. It is of various forms, semicircular, rectangular, or circular. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Surg.) An instrument formerly used in extracting foreign or offensive matter from a wound. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Anat.) A muscle which extends an organ or part; -- opposed to retractor. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An adjustable pattern used by tailors. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]